Chapter 77: Cold in the Midst of Summer (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: Cold in the Midst of Summer (3)
It was around one in the morning, deep in the heart of the night. I had already lain down to sleep.
[To become a true Taoist, one must cast aside all worldly desires, including lust.]
Elder Shin’s voice echoed in the dead silence, sounding more serious than I had ever heard him. I think this was the most grave his tone had been since the day we met.
[If one allows themself to be distracted by every trivial matter, they will never achieve their goal, neither as a martial artist nor a Taoist.]
He spoke rapidly, without a single stutter.
[Did you know? The highest-ranking members of the Mount Hua Sect often remain unmarried their entire lives? It is all to increase their chances of attaining enlightenment.]
The individuals destined to become the sect leader and public face of Mount Hua typically refrained from marriage, though there were rare exceptions. To be honest, I couldn't care less whether they married or not.
After listening to Elder Shin’s nagging for a moment, I replied with clear disinterest plastered on my face.
…So what’s your point?
[…I hope you die, you little brat!] Elder Shin shouted inside my head. [I don’t see how someone who looks like an ugly mantis attracts so many flowers. What has the world come to…]*
So what you’re really saying is, you died without ever having a single relationship, while I’m surrounded by girls at a young age. Is that it?
[…]
You’re not actually angry about something like that, are you?
[You… little…]
Though I couldn't see him, I could vividly imagine him trembling with unimaginable fury and agony.
So he was just recounting his sob story, huh? Now I understood why he always flew into a rage whenever a situation like this arose.
…So you really never met any—
[…! …!! …!!! …!]
“Jeez, what are you screaming for—”
“Mmph…”
“…Ugh.”
“…!”
I quickly shut my mouth when I heard the sounds coming from either side of me.
Earlier, the exhaustion weighing down every inch of my body had made me feel like I would faint at any moment. But now, I was wide awake because of the scenario I found myself in.
In the dark room, I was sandwiched between Wi Seol-Ah on my right and Namgung Bi-ah on my left. Namgung Bi-ah had fallen asleep immediately, just like yesterday, while Wi Seol-Ah had eventually drifted off after chatting with me for a while.
I’d been utterly shocked when I first opened the door and saw them waving at me, with all the bedding already arranged. For a second, I thought I was dreaming.
If you're wondering how this happened, it was because I hadn't had time to request a new room for Namgung Bi-ah after the day's events. And I couldn't bring myself to kick out Wi Seol-Ah, who looked like she would burst into tears the moment I told her she couldn't sleep here.
“…Why is sis allowed but not me…?” she had asked indignantly, before promptly starting to cry. After that, I couldn't say anything.
I could have said it was because she was just a servant, but I knew those words would be impossible to take back once spoken. I could just imagine the heartbroken expression on Wi Seol-Ah’s face, and I couldn't bear to say it and face the consequences. Besides, with the Sword Venerable absent, I simply didn't have the energy to deal with her, so I let her stay.
I was aware of the phenomenon called summer snow. But snow and summer didn't belong together; the logic I understood didn't allow for such a scenario. How could it be cold enough to snow in the summer? I had initially dismissed it as nonsense, but now I felt I understood the meaning behind those words.
Swish… Swoosh…
With the soft breathing sounds from Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah, and their scent wafting through the air and filling the room, falling asleep was impossible, no matter how hard I tried.
I no longer felt the summer heat. Honestly, I felt like I was going crazy. In this summer weather, I felt cold rather than hot, my senses completely haywire.
I usually sleep curled up like a shrimp, with my head turned to the side, but I couldn't do that now. No matter which side I chose, a face was waiting there.
[Smelling their scent? How perverted.]
…Please, just go to sleep.
[Have you ever seen a ghost sleep?]
…Ugh.
I lifted my severely exhausted body, and my shoulders immediately ached from the uncomfortable position I’d been in.
“Mmph…”
I thought I had moved carefully, but Wi Seol-Ah, right next to my arm, made a uncomfortable noise as I shifted. She was chewing on her hair in her sleep. It seemed even in her dreams, she was probably eating something.
What is she eating? Maybe some noodles?
After entertaining that pointless thought, I gently brushed the hair away from Wi Seol-Ah’s face. With her hair pushed aside, her pale skin and pink lips came into view. Though her face wasn't fully mature, it held an otherworldly charm.
She’ll probably need to wear a veil soon.
A veil didn't really suit a servant, but in her case, there was no choice. She wasn't just your average pretty girl. Moreover, considering what happened in my past life, covering her face seemed almost mandatory.
In a year or two, I’ll probably have to cover her face with a veil.
If… I’m still with her by then.
It was a bitter thought. The gnawing certainty that I wouldn't be able to stay with Wi Seol-Ah never left my mind. It wouldn't be strange for me to leave everything behind anyway.
I was blessed with the care and affection Wi Seol-Ah showered on me daily, but the feeling that I didn't deserve such kindness constantly plagued me. I couldn't help but think that way.
“Oomph…”
Suddenly, Wi Seol-Ah grabbed my hand in her sleep. Her hand was soft and warm.
“Grandpa…”
It seemed she was dreaming about the Sword Venerable. I patted Wi Seol-Ah’s head lightly with my other hand and then, with utmost care and quietness, got up from the bed. I was sure I wouldn't be able to sleep in my current state.
I took a pillow with me and retreated to a corner of the room.
[You are making a sad decision, you know….]
It’s not a sad decision.
If I didn't get any sleep tonight, being a martial artist wouldn't matter; I was fairly certain I would die of exhaustion.
I laid down on the hard wooden floor after placing the pillow. Now that I could no longer hear their breathing or smell their scent, I thankfully fell asleep rather quickly.
* * *
Chirp, chirp… Chirp—!
I woke to the sound of birds chirping. That alone told me it was already morning.
“…Ugh…”
I wanted to sleep until at least noon. Why had I woken up so early? I tried to ignore the growing annoyance and attempted to get up, but I found I couldn't move at all, as if someone had pinned me to the ground.
…Is this sleep paralysis?
I moved my head to check my surroundings and immediately noticed bluish-white hair resting slightly above my chest.
“…What the?”
When I fully woke up, I realized both my arms had been taken hostage in my sleep. Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah were clinging to them from either side as they slept.
…What are they doing here? I went out of my way to sleep in the corner. What happened during the night?
“…Elder Shin.”
[Don’t call for me.]
“What are you… Uh, did something happen last night?”
[I saw nothing…]
What is he even talking about…?
Putting aside Elder Shin’s weird reaction, I really wanted to get up, but my arms were trapped in their grasp.
“…Seriously, what are they doing? What if someone sees—”
Sliiide—
“…this.”
As soon as I spoke those words, the door slid open abruptly, and my eyes met those of the newcomer.
There were no servants who would bluntly open the door without permission, and it was even less likely to be a Mount Hua Sect martial artist. So, only a few possibilities came to mind.
“…”
“…Uh.”
When I finally saw who had barged in, I broke out in a cold sweat.
It was the person I had considered the least likely possibility: my little sister, Gu Ryunghwa.
Her face gradually morphed into a deep frown as she looked at the two girls beside me. I knew the timing was bad, but how could I explain this? How could I make her understand that this wasn't what it looked like? That we just slept while holding hands?
…Wow, how persuasive.
I couldn't just blurt out such silly words when she’d found me on the floor with two girls sleeping beside me in the morning.
As I frantically wondered what to say, Gu Ryunghwa, who seemed about to speak, suddenly closed the door with a chilly frown. “…I’ll wait outside.”
The icy edge in her voice from outside told me it was already too late to mend this misunderstanding.
I struggled to escape the two girls’ grasp and finally managed to free one hand by tickling Wi Seol-Ah’s hip.
“Kyaghhh!!”
Wi Seol-Ah instantly woke up, shocked and surprised, and started rolling on the floor. With one hand free, I used it to bonk Namgung Bi-ah on the head.
“…Hmm?”
Namgung Bi-ah finally woke up when she felt the tap on her forehead. As her grip loosened, I quickly pulled my arm free and hastily left the room.
Outside, I found Gu Ryunghwa sitting on the floor. My mind raced, unable to decide what to say, but she spoke first.
“Master wants to see you.”
“…What?” I was utterly dumbfounded; I hadn't expected that.
“She was disappointed she didn't get to see you last time you came.”
By ‘last time,’ she must have meant when I delivered the letter to the Immortal Heater’s hut.
“The Plum Blossom Sword Saint herself?”
Why? She had mentioned being friends with my mother, so perhaps she wanted to see me as her friend's son?
“She asked you to visit her once before you return to the clan.”
“…Okay. Is that why you came all the way here? This early?”
“Are you crazy? Of course, I had other things to do when I decided to come.”
Her face was full of annoyance. “But if I knew I’d see such a sight first thing in the morning, I would’ve come later.”
“…Why did you come to the sect, anyway?”
“Is it weird for a sect member to come to their own sect?”
“In your case, yes, it is.” I said this because I knew she spent most of her time at the hut taking care of her master, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.
Gu Ryunghwa let out a deep, tired sigh with a disgusted expression, as if she’d just chewed a bug. “…I just came for the tournament. Mind your own business.”
“I was minding my own business, but you’re the one who came here.”
“…”
“Are you going to participate in the tournament?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Right.”
I had originally planned to return to the Gu Clan after the tournament ended. But since I’d already returned the treasure, and Gu Ryunghwa had made it clear she wasn't returning to the clan, I think I can just leave without waiting for the tournament to end? I saw no problem leaving early, as long as I could gather more information about Zhuge Hyuk and the Black Palace.
While I was lost in thought, Gu Ryunghwa stood up, her task complete. “I’m done here. You can go back to playing with those ugly girls of yours.”
“What…? Ugly…?”
“Yeah, since all girls that will ever be with you are—”
She abruptly stopped speaking. I noticed her pupils trembling severely, as if she were extremely shocked by something. She was still looking in my direction, but not at me. More like… behind me?
“Hmm?”
I turned my head, wondering what could have shocked her so suddenly, and saw Namgung Bi-ah standing there with a sleepy expression, staring at Gu Ryunghwa. Wi Seol-Ah was also there, half-asleep.
Gu Ryunghwa was frozen in place, having seen both of them at once. Perhaps she was shocked because even one such beauty was devastating enough, but here were two?
Her lips quivered as if she wanted to say something, but she quickly turned and left without another word, disappearing from sight.
“What the…?”
…What’s up with her?
* * *
After having breakfast with the two sleepyheads, Wi Seol-Ah was, as usual, taken away by Hongwa, while Namgung Bi-ah went to train on the mountain.
Meanwhile, I was summoned around noon to discuss the Black Palace individuals.
“Not a single clean body.”
Three corpses were laid out in the room. I believed there had been five or more when I left, but some had been too badly ruined by wild animals to be recovered.
One had died from a broken neck, twisted beyond belief, while the others had been burned to death. That was more or less my doing, so I had nothing to say.
But one thing was certain: Thankfully, they don’t seem to be Demonic Humans.
Humans converted into Demonic Humans by the Heavenly Demons would turn completely black upon death. The men I killed in the forest hadn't undergone such a change, though the burns made it hard to tell.
A man who had been thoroughly examining the corpses spoke to the Celestial Sword Plum. “It’s hard to say with one body so ruined, but judging from the other two, they seem to have belonged to the Western Dragon.”
The scar on each of their shoulders appeared to be the symbol of their organization. The scars looked old, certainly not made recently.
“…Wasn’t the Western Dragon disbanded by the Murim Alliance a few years ago?” Bandits were rare in this era, but some groups still existed.
“I believe some who escaped during the disbandment were taken in by another group.”
It was common in the martial world for people to join new groups after losing their old ones. Losing their faction didn't suddenly make them nice people. And there was usually one place where such individuals gathered and merged.
The Black Palace.
The fact that the Celestial Sword Plum and the other elders were frowning likely meant they had identified these men as Black Palace members. Or perhaps they were connecting their presence to the disappearances of Mount Hua Sect disciples?
“…Sect Leader, should we increase the scouting range?” one elder suggested, breaking the uneasy silence. He wanted to expand their search since they had found a clue.
But others seemed to disagree. “Senior, we might lose more disciples that way.”
“Then are you saying we should do nothing out of fear? We’ve already lost enough of our disciples…!”
“That’s not what I…!”
“Stop.”
Swoosh—!
With that single word from the sect leader, the scent of plum blossoms instantly permeated the area. After overpowering the room with his aura, he spoke again, calmly smiling. “An outsider is present. I understand your desperation, but remain calm and collect yourselves.”
“…I apologize.”
“My apologies… Sect Leader.”
I watched their exchange with a blank expression. Thankfully, no one blamed me for the incident.
“I do have a plan for scouting.”
“You made a plan?”
“…The way you look at me with such doubt is truly saddening…”
“…I apologize.”
He apologized but didn't deny it. To receive such treatment from his own people, even as sect leader… Just how much trouble had he caused the sect?
“…Ahem. Anyway, I apologize once again for involving you in the affairs of Mount Hua Sect, young man.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“Once I finish discussing matters with the elders, I will prepare the reward I mentioned.”
“…Thank you.” I wanted to say it wasn't necessary, as I’d only done what I had to, but I had a nagging feeling the Celestial Sword Plum would retort if I did. Sure enough, he was looking at me with a strange glint in his eyes. But it seemed he couldn't joke around with the other elders present.
I left as it became clear they wanted to discuss matters privately, things an outsider shouldn't hear.
[It looks like it went well.]
“Yeah. I even prepared some excuses, but they weren't needed.”
[Taoist sects are very understanding, after all.]
“Ironic, coming from you…”
Now that I thought about it, Elder Shin didn't seem to care much about the current Mount Hua Sect. For instance, he wasn't particularly fazed by the disappearances of its disciples. He seemed satisfied enough that the sect still stood. The current members were responsible for the present situation, or so he had told me.
I guess this is a form of retirement…?
With these thoughts churning in my head, I headed to the mountain where I had trained before. Knowing I would only sleep more if I returned to the lodge, I decided some training was in order.
However.
“What is she doing here…?”
I already knew Namgung Bi-ah was here from the razor-sharp sword intent smothering the atmosphere as I climbed the mountain. It was slightly less intense than yesterday, but it was undoubtedly hers.
However, I soon sensed another presence near her.
-Arghh…! Why won’t you get hit even once…!
The other presence, a girl, could be seen aggressively swinging a wooden sword before being tripped by Namgung Bi-ah’s foot and falling to the ground.
Unlike yesterday, no one was spectating, likely because they were all immersed in their own training. The girl who fell rolled in the dirt for a while. Her uniform was heavily stained, suggesting this wasn't the first time.
“…Why is she here?” Namgung Bi-ah looked at her opponent with her usual apathetic expression.
The girl rolling on the ground, her face a mask of clear anger, was, to my shock, Gu Ryunghwa.