Chapter 699: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 699: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (9)
“You saw Grandfather…?”
That was the first thing Gu Huibi asked me when I arrived at her residence.
“Yeah.”
“How…?”
“He came looking for me.”
I answered her stunned question nonchalantly. My ribs were still throbbing. Damn, I should’ve pulled my punches when I hit him.
“What, just like that? Out of nowhere?”
“That’s right. Out of nowhere.”
She kept pressing, clearly unable to wrap her head around it, but my answer remained the same.
“Sis, stop asking. I was just as surprised as you.”
Did she think I expected that man… wait, is he even human? Anyway, did she think I knew that old man who calls himself my grandfather would just show up? Thanks to him, my ribs are cracked and my mood is in the gutter.
This damned bloodline.
None of these Gu bastards are right in the head. They’re all a bunch of selfish pricks. How is a normal person like me supposed to live peacefully in a place like this?
I should really just run away from home.
Just when I thought I might be growing a little attached to this family, something like this happens. What a mess.
“So…”
After finally settling my churning stomach, I looked at Gu Huibi.
“Sis… what exactly are you doing right now?”
“Hm?”
At my question, Gu Huibi tilted her head.
“Can’t you tell? I’m making food.”
“...”
Did she think I was asking because I was blind?
I’m asking because I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Gu Huibi was cooking. Casually dressed in comfortable clothes, she prepared a few side dishes and began arranging them on the table. How should I even describe this nightmarish scene? I, for one, had no idea.
“…You actually know how to cook?”
“A little, I guess?”
I wore a look of pure bewilderment at her casual reply. Finding my expression amusing, she let out a small laugh.
“You learn these things when you’re raising a child.”
“…Why do you sound like a mother?”
“Oh my, does the role suit me?”
“No, not at all.”
To be honest, it actually did suit her a little, but admitting it out loud felt strangely irritating. As I watched Gu Huibi’s bizarre behavior…
Clink.
Something was placed in the bowl that had appeared before me at some point. What was this? I had no idea. It looked like food, but…
“What is this…?”
Unable to identify the dish, I looked at the person who had served it. It was the Heavenly Demon, who had sat down next to me without me noticing. She sat there, placing items on my plate one by one.
“Stop, wait… what is this?”
“Food.”
“I can see that. I’m asking why you’re giving it to me.”
“This is delicious. It’s my favorite.”
“...”
What the hell was happening? It felt like it was already too late to try and understand. With no energy left to argue, I silently picked up the food and put it in my mouth.
…Huh?
I was a little surprised. It tasted better than I expected. And…
I actually ate it.
I should have been shocked that I had so casually accepted food in the Heavenly Demon’s presence.
Even with my Ten Thousand Poison Immunity…
I was being far too careless. Or maybe it was precisely because it was the Heavenly Demon.
She would never resort to poison.
She wasn’t the type to use petty methods like assassination. She was the kind of woman who would personally cut down anyone she didn’t like. Perhaps that’s why I wasn’t worried about such trivial things. Or was it purely because Gu Huibi was here? I didn’t know.
Not knowing, I took another bite.
“Is it good?” Gu Huibi asked.
“It’s not bad.”
“Really?”
Hearing my answer, Gu Huibi grinned and looked at the Heavenly Demon.
“Yeona, he says it’s not bad.”
“Yeah.”
“…Hmm?”
“Ah, Yeona made this.”
“…?”
Gu Huibi’s words made my eyes widen as I stared at the Heavenly Demon. What kind of bullshit was this now?
“This… she made this?”
“Yep. She did a good job, right? She’s surprisingly skilled with her hands.”
Gu Huibi praised her, stroking the Heavenly Demon’s hair. The Heavenly Demon didn’t resist, simply letting her body yield to the touch. Meanwhile, I still couldn’t recover from the shock.
The Heavenly Demon… cooks?
That Heavenly Demon? It was one of the most shocking things I had ever experienced. And the fact that she was actually good at it made it even more absurd.
I’m too tired to even react anymore.
I felt exhausted from the constant surprises. I put down my chopsticks. It was time to get to the point.
“Sis.”
“Yeah?”
“What happened with Grandfather?”
“...”
Since I cut straight to the chase, Gu Huibi froze for a moment. I stared at her intently.
“Why did that old man leave her with you? What happened?”
“…Well…”
I pressed her again. I made it clear I wouldn’t let her change the subject. Gu Huibi looked awkward, but I waited quietly for her to speak. Finally, she cautiously opened her mouth.
“It was probably… around the time my swordsmen army was disbanded.”
The Gu Clan’s 5th Army, which Gu Huibi had led as Captain, was currently temporarily disbanded due to internal politics. The exact reason likely involved the power struggle over the position of Young Leader of the Ancient Gu Clan. Because of that, Gu Huibi had been forced to take a break and had left to tour the Central Plains.
In terms of timing, it must have been a little less than two years ago.
“It wasn’t a particularly special day. I was traveling, just like always.”
It was a spring day when the flowers were just beginning to bloom. While walking through Qinghai, Gu Huibi said she suddenly encountered our grandfather.
—You must take this child. It is for the clan.
The Heavenly Demon, who seemed to have lost consciousness, was in their grandfather’s arms. He entrusted her to Gu Huibi.
“…And you just took her?”
To accept her just because he told you to, without any suspicion… she wasn’t usually such a pushover. When I looked at her with doubt, she spoke with a slightly defensive tone.
“Grandfather said it was a matter for the clan. What was I supposed to do?”
No matter how wild Gu Huibi was, it seemed she had no choice when her grandfather—the previous Lord of the clan who was presumed dead—said it was a clan matter. But still.
“You just believed him? What if that grandfather was a fake?”
“Little brother, how were you so sure the person you met was Grandfather?”
“...”
I was at a loss for words. Her question meant she had realized it the same way I had.
The Resonance of the Gu Flame Wheel Art.
That alone was enough to identify our bloodline.
“Still, even so. If a being made of flames hands you something, you should at least be wary…”
“What flames are you talking about?”
“What?”
I paused. She didn’t understand what I was saying?
This is…
Sensing something was off, I asked her again.
“Sis. Do you remember what Grandfather looked like?”
“His appearance?”
“Wasn’t he a human figure engulfed in flames or something like that?”
“Little brother… did you eat something bad? Where in the world would you see something like that?”
“...”
Her gaze, as if looking at a pathetic fool, made my head spin.
“No, really… he didn’t look like that?”
“Far from being on fire, he looked perfectly fine. He had white hair and a sturdy build. I thought the current Lord resembled Grandfather a lot.”
“...”
The more I heard, the more my brow furrowed. Her unhesitating explanation made it clear that she had truly seen him in human form.
What is this?
I couldn't understand. When I saw him, he was clearly a being of fire, yet Gu Huibi saw him as a man.
He told me I saw him strangely because I hadn’t settled into my position yet.
And yet Gu Huibi saw him as a human? What was going on? It was a strange sense of dissonance. But more importantly…
“The reason?” I asked. “Why did he entrust the Heavenly Demon to you?”
Gu Huibi spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if wondering why I would even ask.
“I don’t know.”
“…What?”
“How would I know? He just told me to look after her for a while.”
“...”
I was going to lose my mind.
“Sis, you’re really no help at all.”
“Little brother. Want to get hit for the first time in a while?”
“No… I’m past the point of getting hit by you, so I’ll pass.”
I cut her off and moved on.
“Then, why are you living in a place like this? You could have just told Lady Mi.”
Why come all the way to Henan just to live in such a shabby residence?
“Of course I tried telling her.”
“And?”
“If I had told her, why do you think I’d be here? I’m here because Mother shot me down.”
“...”
A perfect answer. She was here because she didn’t have permission.
“Besides, even if that wasn’t the case,” Gu Huibi glanced at the Heavenly Demon, “that child said she wanted to be here.”
The Heavenly Demon? Of all people, she chose this location? Why? As the question formed, I asked something else.
“Then your sudden increase in realm has nothing to do with Grandfather?”
Gu Huibi was not yet thirty. For her to have reached the Fusion Realm was a massive feat. If it wasn't Grandfather’s doing, then how?
“While raising a child, I had some realizations. Before I knew it, I ended up like this.”
“...”
“Isn’t it amazing?”
Yeah, truly amazing. It was the most absurd answer I had heard all day.
She gained enlightenment while raising a child…?
Enlightenment isn’t something you just stumble upon. If you gain enlightenment by raising a child, does that make all the mothers in the world superhumans?
Wait. Is it because I don’t have a mother that I don’t know? Looking at Lady Mi, even if her martial prowess is unknown, her Qi is strong, so maybe it’s true—
“…You crazy bastard.”
I snapped back to my senses. Ultimately, this meant Gu Huibi had no useful information.
“Then what about you?” I turned to the Heavenly Demon. “Why were you captured?”
“...”
How did she end up in our grandfather’s hands? I was sure she had disappeared with the Lord of the Black Palace. The Heavenly Demon seemed to ponder seriously for a moment before finally answering.
“I don’t know.”
This one was the same.
“When I opened my eyes, it was like that.”
“...”
On one hand, I was about to explode at that ridiculous answer. On the other, I had to consider if she was telling the truth. There were too many strange things about this.
“But why didn’t you run away?”
She woke up, was dragged away by Grandfather, and entrusted to Gu Huibi. Why didn't she escape?
“You could have easily escaped.”
The Heavenly Demon is strong. Even setting aside her usual powers, I was certain after seeing the Divine Sword she had drawn against Grandfather earlier.
She’s strong.
Very strong. She might even be stronger than I am now. That was why, even if her disposition had changed, she remained a dangerous element. She had a history of causing a blood disaster in my past life, and her identity was still a mystery.
Moreover…
She’s connected to the Blood Demon.
Which meant Wi Seol-Ah must also be connected. My mouth turned bitter. I swallowed the feeling down. So, why didn’t she run?
“It didn’t matter.”
The Heavenly Demon looked at me and murmured quietly.
“It didn’t matter?”
“Yeah. In fact, it was good. Because I could see.”
For someone speaking with a blank, emotionless expression, her words were quite emotional. What was she so happy to see? The outside world? Gu Huibi? Or something else? I didn’t know, and I didn’t particularly care.
“Then, does that mean you don’t know where Taejeolgwi is either?”
“...”
At the mention of Taejeolgwi, the Heavenly Demon’s eyes changed slightly.
“Taejeolgwi?”
“Yes, Taejeolgwi.”
The Formation Master who created the Demonic Cult’s mechanisms. The artisan who created artificial treasures. I needed him for my future plans, and I had judged that the Heavenly Demon would know his location.
Of course, whether she’d tell me was another story. I expected her to refuse, and I had prepared methods to deal with that.
But then…
“The old man is in Xinjiang.”
“Right, as expected, you won’t tell me… wait, what did you say?”
My body froze solid.
Xinjiang?
Taejeolgwi is in Xinjiang? Again? Is Xinjiang some kind of demon’s den? Everyone is gathered there. Was she lying? And besides…
“Xinjiang… why are you telling me this?”
At my question, a look of disbelief bloomed on the Heavenly Demon’s face.
“You asked.”
“...”
Right. I did ask. But why are you answering so easily?
“Ah… haa…”
I trailed off and wearily wiped my face. I didn’t know what was what anymore. I didn’t want to think.
This is annoying. Should I just destroy everything?
My old personality felt like it was about to burst out. I stood up.
“I’m leaving…”
“Huh? Little brother?”
Gu Huibi and the Heavenly Demon’s eyes widened. Ignoring them both, I headed for the door.
“Thanks for the food.”
It wasn’t an empty compliment; I had actually eaten well. It was surprisingly filling.
“You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah.”
Gu Huibi sounded disappointed, but my feet were already moving. I felt like I would go crazy if I stayed any longer. I had asked what I needed to. I closed the door and stepped outside.
The stars were piercingly bright, but they didn’t feel beautiful. My mind was too cluttered to notice.
What on earth is in Xinjiang?
Namgung Myung, Grandfather… why were they all telling me to go there?
Honestly, I was planning to just say screw it and stay away.
I didn’t care about their summons. If they had a problem, they could deal with it themselves. Xinjiang wasn’t in my plans.
But if what the Heavenly Demon said is true, I have to go.
If Taejeolgwi is truly in Xinjiang, the story changes. I need to confirm her words first.
…For now… forget it.
Right now, I was completely exhausted. I just wanted to go back to my residence. I was about to leap when…
“Goodbye.”
A voice from behind made me pause. The Heavenly Demon had followed me out and was waving.
“...”
I watched her quietly. I didn't react. I just stared. The resentful being I had wanted to kill so badly was waving at me. The bitter feeling that came with it was unpleasant.
“Come again,” she said.
Her violet eyes were focused solely on me. Is that woman really the Heavenly Demon? The doubt was absurd, yet it lingered.
“If possible, it would be nice if you came when the maple leaves have turned.”
I finally couldn’t hold back. “…Why maple leaves, of all things?”
For some reason, her words grated on my ears.
“It’s pretty then. I like it.”
“Are you saying you like maple leaves?”
“No.”
“What then?”
“Not me. You like them.”
“…?”
I frowned. What did she mean?
I like maple leaves?
I didn't particularly dislike them, but did I like them that much? Besides, how would she know something I wasn’t even sure about myself?
“So come then.”
As if uninterested in my reaction, she finished speaking and went back inside. I stared at the spot where she had been, my gaze lingering for a fleeting moment.
“Tsk.”
I leaped away, a sense of discomfort in my heart.
Fwhoosh!
My body rose into the air, catching the wind. The night sky was bright, but my heart felt too narrow and constrained to take in the stars. It was that kind of night.
* * *
A day passed. As dawn broke, I woke up in my own residence.
“…Haa.”
I sat up, my face scrunched in a deep frown. I’d had a restless night. I rarely slept more than two hours, but even that had been fitful.
“Another shitty dream.”
I’d been having frequent nightmares lately—the kind that are irritating upon waking, yet impossible to remember. That was the most frustrating part. My body wasn’t tired from the lack of sleep, but the feeling was incredibly unsettling.
As I circulated my energy, I felt a throbbing pain in my ribs.
“Hoo.”
Still, it was better than yesterday. My body had already begun to regenerate.
I should focus on lower body training today.
It seemed best to leave my upper body alone for a while. Just as I was clicking my tongue in disappointment, I heard a knock.
Knock, knock.
“Young Master. Are you awake?”
It wasn’t a voice I recognized. “Who is it?”
“My name is Baekyeon, a servant.”
I remembered the name. She was one of the new servants of the Gu Clan.
“What is it?”
Crack. I stretched my neck roughly.
“The Leader of the White Flower Merchant Association asked me to bring you tea when you awoke… would you like some?”
Lady Mi sent tea this early? It was barely dawn.
“Bring it in.”
I had a strange feeling, but I let her in anyway. The door opened and the servant entered.
Tap.
The moment her foot touched the floor, a strange light flickered in my eyes. I observed her quietly. At the same time, a sweet scent brushed past my nose. It was a scent I had smelled somewhere before.
As if noticing my interest, the servant immediately explained.
“This is a plum tea sent by the Celestial Plum Blossom to the Leader of the White Flower Merchant Association.”
It was the same scent as the tea I had drunk at the Mount Hua Sect. The servant set down the tea, and I reached for it without hesitation.
“Oh! The tea is hot, please be care—!”
The servant tried to warn me, but I had already grabbed the cup. I was fine, of course. I lifted it and took a sip.
“…Hmm.”
I nodded immediately. Just as I expected.
It’s poison.
The plum tea was laced with poison.