Chapter 525: Just Let Me Hold It Once (32)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 525: Just Let Me Hold It Once (32)
Around the time a major crisis erupted within the Tang Clan, if one were to name the busiest person, it would undoubtedly be the Poison King.
Surprisingly, however, there was someone else running around with just as much urgency.
“No… What in the world is happening?”
That person was Moyong Hi-ah, the cherished daughter of the Moyong Clan, who had been moving frantically since the incident broke out in the morning, without even a moment to tidy her hair.
Back in the guest residence assigned to her, Moyong Hi-ah repeatedly massaged her temples.
“…Information. Is there any more information?” she asked, frowning as she looked to the side.
The subordinate kneeling on one knee responded, “…As this was a sudden development, we are still gathering details.”
“…Ugh!”
Biting her fine lips at the reply, Moyong Hi-ah felt a wave of frustration.
What is going on…?
To be thrown into such a state first thing in the morning…
Confronted with this absurd situation, Moyong Hi-ah’s mind raced.
An elder, beheaded, just like that?
A cold sweat broke out on her skin at the sudden news. The First Elder of the Tang Clan had been executed overnight—and by the Poison King’s own hand, no less.
What is the situation here?
The First Elder was the one who managed all medicinal herbs for the entire clan. In his later years, his cultivation had reportedly reached the Fusion Realm. Moyong Hi-ah knew him personally.
Due to her unique constitution, she had conducted several transactions with the Tang Clan, not just for treatment but also for the herbs themselves. The person in charge had been the First Elder.
In Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes, he had been… a shady character.
She had pegged him as someone with a rather dark undertone. Separate from that, she had also assessed him as highly capable. Given his control over the clan’s medicinal resources, his influence within the Tang Clan must have been substantial.
And yet, he was beheaded?
To eliminate someone of such stature so easily… A shiver ran down her spine the moment she heard the news.
Something significant had happened. There was no way she could miss that.
I need more information.
A headache was already forming from the intense thinking so early in the morning. But what needed to be done, had to be done.
A major incident had occurred within the Tang Clan. From Moyong Hi-ah’s perspective, this was a serious problem.
I have so many ventures planned for the future.
She had several businesses in preparation with the Tang Clan, and more than a few expansions relied on them. For a crisis to erupt at such a time? It was deeply troublesome.
Moyong Hi-ah quickly mapped out several courses of action in her mind. The fastest and cleanest among them was to hold the Tang Clan accountable and resolve the matter without complications.
…
But then she thought of Tang Soyeol and dismissed that idea.
It wasn’t that she was particularly worried about Tang Soyeol. It was true she had grown fond of her during their time together, but Moyong Hi-ah knew such sentiment wouldn’t cover her losses.
However.
He would hate it.
She knew that if she handled this purely as a business transaction, that man—with his personality of subtly looking after his own—wouldn’t take it well.
So, what choice did she have but to endure?
Just as she was searching for an alternative plan, a thought struck her.
“…Wait a minute…”
Moyong Hi-ah remembered Gu Yangcheon from their last trip to the county, the way he had seemed to be hiding something. That man, whose eyes had held a glint that promised trouble.
And then, not long after, this incident occurred.
Surely, there can’t be a connection…?
It wasn’t a certainty. But as the saying goes, ‘you never know,’ and that man was certainly capable of it.
Creak. Moyong Hi-ah rose to her feet.
“My Lady?”
“…I’ll be back shortly. Continue gathering information while I’m gone.”
“Understood.”
After hastily issuing the order, Moyong Hi-ah left her residence at a near-run.
Her destination was the residence where that man, Gu Yangcheon, was staying.
Please, don’t let it be him.
Moyong Hi-ah prayed earnestly in her heart. Who do you think I’m working so hard for? He wouldn’t cause trouble when he can’t even be of help, right?
She desperately hoped so.
I haven’t even finished… Mother’s homework yet.
Grrrind. She gritted her teeth.
The ‘homework’ from her ‘mother’ referred to a task given directly by Mi Hyoran, the Lady of White Flowers. One day, a letter had arrived from the White Flowers merchant association detailing a complex business scenario, asking Moyong Hi-ah to outline how she would resolve it.
Having dealt with similar situations in the Moyong Clan’s businesses, the task itself was familiar. Normally, she would have dismissed it as a sudden, nonsensical request.
If only the sender hadn’t been the Lady of White Flower Merchant Association.
The fact that Mi Hyoran had gone out of her way to devise such a complicated scenario and send it to her… Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t mistake the meaning.
It’s a test.
Mi Hyoran was testing her. How outstanding are you? It was a challenge to prove herself.
What would change if she proved it? What was the test for? The answer was obvious.
She probably wanted to see if Moyong Hi-ah was worthy of standing by his side.
An inexplicable chill ran through her, and she furrowed her brow.
I heard he wasn’t her biological son…
She had definitely heard that Gu Yangcheon was not Mi Hyoran’s biological child. Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t fathom why Mi Hyoran was acting this way.
Nevertheless, an opportunity had presented itself, and she couldn’t let it slip away.
And in the midst of this…
…did this man cause trouble?
It wasn’t confirmed yet… No, if she was honest, Moyong Hi-ah was certain. Her instincts screamed that he was involved in the Tang Clan incident.
As if I’m not busy enough!
Moyong Hi-ah walked on, grinding her teeth. She had to ask him directly what kind of situation had just blown up. That would be faster than waiting for information.
As she approached the residence, lost in thought, she noticed someone standing in front of Gu Yangcheon’s quarters.
It was someone Moyong Hi-ah recognized.
“…What are you doing here?”
“…!”
The woman, who had been peeking inside as if hesitating to enter, flinched and trembled when Moyong Hi-ah approached. Her light brown hair swayed with the motion.
“Ah, hello….”
The woman spoke, her characteristic golden pupils glinting.
She’s as beautiful as ever.
Moyong Hi-ah was well aware of her own attractiveness, but compared to this woman or the Sword Dancer, she felt she fell slightly short.
Suppressing her urgency, Moyong Hi-ah addressed the woman—Wi Seol-Ah—again. “What are you doing here?”
“Well….”
“Do you have business with him?”
“Ah, no… It’s not with the Young Master.”
Though no one had been specified, they both knew who she meant.
“Hmm?”
Wi Seol-Ah had no business with Gu Yangcheon? That was an answer Moyong Hi-ah hadn’t expected. Being that Wi Seol-Ah, she had naturally assumed the woman was here to see him.
If not him, then who?
As far as she knew, three people were staying in this residence: Gu Yangcheon, the Sleeping Dragon, and a young man named Cheol… something. It seemed unlikely Wi Seol-Ah would have business with anyone else.
Though she found it strange, a part of her was relieved.
If she doesn’t have business with him, that’s better for me.
Since she was the one who needed to see Gu Yangcheon.
“Then I’ll go in first. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
“Ah…!”
As Moyong Hi-ah moved toward the residence, Wi Seol-Ah startled once more.
Why does she keep reacting like that?
Stepping inside, Moyong Hi-ah immediately felt something was off.
What is this?
The temperature seemed to have risen slightly. For someone with an unusually low body temperature like her, the change was particularly noticeable.
But she was in a hurry, so she brushed it aside for now. The important thing was to find out what kind of trouble had occurred.
Heading straight to Gu Yangcheon’s room, she called out, “Young Master Gu. Are you there?”
—….
There was no answer. A servant had confirmed he was in his residence.
Is he sleeping?
Sleeping in this situation? No matter what kind of man he was, he wouldn’t just nap after causing such a mess.
Then is he really not involved?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, tap tap—Wi Seol-Ah appeared beside her.
Moyong Hi-ah narrowed her eyes. “You said you didn’t have any business here.”
“…Well….”
She had clearly stated she had no business with Gu Yangcheon. What is this? Was she trying to start a battle of nerves?
As Moyong Hi-ah was about to speak, screech—the door to Gu Yangcheon’s room opened.
Turning toward the sound, Moyong Hi-ah faced the figure emerging from the room.
“…Young… M… huh?”
An uncharacteristically foolish sound escaped her lips. Because the person who appeared was not Gu Yangcheon.
He was much larger, with a broader chest and shoulders. The gaze looking down at her felt… heavy. Just being under his scrutiny made her feel crushed.
Gulp.
Facing the piercing red glow in his eyes, Moyong Hi-ah swallowed dryly. The man from Gu Yangcheon’s room stared at her in silence.
A few seconds passed. Managing to move her eyes, Moyong Hi-ah quickly scanned the room’s interior—and was shocked once more.
…Why is she here?
Inside, she could see the Sword Dancer sitting at a table, looking as if she were treading on eggshells.
This is not normal. What is this atmosphere?
Moyong Hi-ah’s sharp mind spun rapidly. But there was no time to ponder. Only one course of action was correct right now.
She composed her breathing—a process that took one second. Her startled heart refused to calm easily.
Doing her best to hide her trembling, stiff body, she showed her respects. “…A blood relative of the Moyong Clan greets the Lord of the Gu Clan. My name is Moyong Hi-ah.”
Fortunately, her voice didn’t tremble. A small mercy.
The man receiving her greeting was Gu Cheolun. She had seen him before; how could she not know him? At the start of this journey, her father, the White Heavenly Sword, had warned her countless times to be wary of the Lord of the Gu Clan. She had also heard about him from her paternal aunt, the White Ripple Sword.
Moreover, he was Gu Yangcheon’s father.
This was an unexpected meeting, but she couldn’t afford to appear pathetic.
“...”
At Moyong Hi-ah’s greeting, Gu Cheolun’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Though she couldn’t see it with her head bowed, she could feel his gaze assessing her.
“…A pleasure. I am Gu Cheolun.”
“I apologize for the sudden visit. It’s just… I have urgent business with Young Master Gu, which is why I came in such a hurry.”
She wanted to ask why the Lord was here, but she held back. That was a lower priority.
“If you mean my son, unfortunately, I don’t think he’s in a state to talk right now.”
“Pardon?”
Gu Cheolun shifted slightly, allowing her a clearer view inside the room. There, lying peacefully on the bedding, was Gu Yangcheon.
He wasn’t merely sleeping; something had happened.
Did he get hurt again?
A flicker of worry passed through her before she could even process the situation. That man was always getting hurt.
As her eyes wavered, Gu Cheolun observed her calmly.
“First, come in.”
“Yes?”
“You may leave if you are in a hurry, but if you don’t mind, I meant for you to come inside and wait.”
“...”
Moyong Hi-ah flinched. Entering now meant waiting with Gu Cheolun until Gu Yangcheon woke up.
What should I do?
Even for someone like her, enduring such an atmosphere would be difficult. If possible, she would have excused herself and left.
But she’s in there.
The presence of the Sword Dancer inside made her hesitate.
She couldn’t delay for long. Steeling herself, Moyong Hi-ah spoke. “Then… I apologize, but I will impose for a short while.”
Gu Cheolun nodded, then turned his gaze to Wi Seol-Ah, who hurriedly paid her respects.
“…I greet the Lord.”
“Your business seems similar. You should come in as well, Young Lady.”
“Ah… Yes.”
With that, Gu Cheolun reentered the room, and the two women followed.
And so, a frighteningly burdensome atmosphere settled over the room.
For the record, until Gu Yangcheon woke up later, the four of them did not exchange a single word.
* * *
So.
“…What is this situation?”
I shot up and surveyed the scene with wide, trembling eyes.
What in the world was going on? Why was my father, who was supposed to be dealing with the Poison King, in my room? And why were these three here as well?
To make matters worse, all three had their heads bowed as if they’d committed a crime.
I thought it was a dream…
The situation was so surreal I lay back down, thinking it must be. But it didn’t take long to realize this was reality. The gazes fixed on me and the suffocating pressure were terribly real.
Drenched in cold sweat, I pushed myself up and looked at my father. “Um… what, what happened?”
It was a condensed question, but it got the point across.
My father took a sip of tea before answering. “The White Ripple Sword informed me you had collapsed.”
“Ah.”
So, when I’d passed out from the backlash of using Thunder Fang, the White Ripple Sword had gone to fetch my father.
“The physician said there were no major problems with your body. Do you feel alright?”
“…Yes. I’m fine.”
“Then that’s settled.”
He nodded. Seeing that, I had to ask another question.
“…Father.”
“Speak.”
“Those girls… No, why are those young ladies acting like that…?”
The three women were so scared they couldn’t even lift their heads.
My father glanced their way. “I told them to be comfortable. It seems they weren’t very comfortable.”
As soon as he spoke, the three women snapped their heads up.
“Not at all. We weren’t uncomfortable in the slightest.”
“…It was fine…”
“It was very comfortable.”
“...”
I was speechless at their frantic denials. What could have made them act like this? They hadn’t been like this before. Something felt off.
“You guys… So why are you here?”
I pushed through the heavy atmosphere to ask. Namgung Bi-ah was the first to speak.
“…You suddenly… collapsed… so I was worried…”
That made sense. Since I’d fainted right after our duel and headbutt… she must have been quite shocked.
…She doesn’t think I fainted just from a little kiss, does she?
I hoped not. That would be truly pathetic.
[As if you were ever not pathetic.]
Elder Shin, ever the ghost, chimed in immediately.
Leaving Namgung Bi-ah, who kept nervously glancing at my father, I turned to Moyong Hi-ah.
She also spoke while subtly eyeing my father. “…I heard an incident occurred in the Tang Clan. I came because I thought Young Master Gu might know something.”
So, the First Elder had been beheaded by the Poison King. To others, it was something that happened overnight, but the fact that Moyong Hi-ah came to ask me about it meant…
Does she already know I was involved?
She was sharp, all right. Quick-witted, too. How much time had passed? I didn’t know yet.
…It would have been troublesome if she were a real enemy.
If Moyong Hi-ah were an enemy, it would have been a nightmare. If the Young Prodigies were the type to corner an enemy into a dead end and let them wither in fear, Moyong Hi-ah was the type to eliminate every escape route and deal with things with surgical precision. Every action was part of a plan.
If both of them had been enemies, it would have been beyond troublesome. I had to consider myself lucky they weren’t.
“…But… um…”
Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes wavered slightly. I thought I knew what she meant. She’d come to ask me something, only to find me passed out and my father here. She must have been flustered.
Yeah, she must be. But how flustered do you think I am? I still couldn’t forget the sight I’d woken up to.
But then.
What about her?
There was one more person, who hadn’t touched her tea and was just staring at the table.
Wi Seol-Ah.
I’d seen her recently in the county, so it hadn’t been long.
“…Do you have business with me, too?”
It was an awkward combination to have here right now. What business could Wi Seol-Ah possibly have with me?
As I looked at her questioningly, she spoke. “…I… um, I didn’t come to see you, Young Master.”
“Huh?”
Not me?
I’d naturally assumed it was me, so her answer took me by surprise.
Wi Seol-Ah looked not at me, but at my father. “…Um, I saw that the Lord had arrived… and thought I should pay my respects… so I came…”
“What?”
I was even more shocked. She hadn’t come to see me, but my father? When did she see him? Very few people should have known of his arrival. Was she saying Wi Seol-Ah had spotted him?
Meanwhile, I noticed my father’s eyes change slightly upon hearing her words.
“Hmm.”
It was a very brief sound, but he had made it.
“…!”
“…Oops.”
Namgung Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah flinched, their expressions screaming ‘Oh no!’
Why are they like that…?
Wondering what was going on, I stayed quiet.
In the ensuing silence, a voice suddenly echoed in my mind.
—I won’t go out of my way to comment on your life.
It was my father’s telepathic communication.
—But three seems a bit much.
“...”
At that sudden message, I had to bite back several responses.
First, I had to stop myself from saying it wasn’t just three.
And after that, I also had to refrain from pointing out that he, of all people, had no right to say that.
Because I had a feeling I’d get hit if I did.