Chapter 79: Foxier than One Might Think (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Foxier than One Might Think (1)
Gu Ryunghwa squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact that never came.
After a few seconds of feeling nothing, she cautiously opened her eyes again. She had expected to see the tip of a wooden sword hovering before her face. Instead, she found herself staring at someone’s back.
It wasn’t the broadest back in the world, but it held a strange, familiar resemblance to one buried deep in her memories.
Whoosh—!
A familiar sound accompanied a wave of scalding heat. The wooden sword that had been swinging toward her was now frozen in its path, caught firmly in someone’s grasp.
Before she could even process what had happened, the oppressive heat suffocating the area vanished. Then, the owner of that back spoke.
“What are you doing?”
At the sound of that voice and the pointed question, the woman dueling Gu Ryunghwa immediately averted her gaze. Only then did Gu Ryunghwa realize who had saved her.
He had sharp eyes and a perpetually annoyed expression, as if the entire world was a personal inconvenience. It was her own brother, Gu Yangcheon.
* * *
I thought my hand was going to break.
My fingers were still tingling. I’d intervened because I feared something irreversible would happen if I didn't, but I hadn't expected things to go this far.
Namgung Bi-ah had channeled Qi into her sword, albeit not a significant amount. Even so, if I hadn't reinforced my own hand with Qi, it would have been shattered to pieces.
“What are you doing?” I asked again.
Namgung Bi-ah refused to meet my eyes. Did she realize she'd gone too far?
“Why would you even use a sword against an opponent like her?”
She remained silent. I’d seen them talking earlier, but I hadn't been close enough to hear the conversation clearly.
Finally, with a sulky expression, Namgung Bi-ah spoke. “…She said ugly.”
“What?”
“Even though that’s not true…”
What is she talking about? Did Gu Ryunghwa call Namgung Bi-ah ugly? I glanced at my sister. Does she need her eyes checked?
Gu Ryunghwa was certainly one of the prettier members of our clan. Unlike most of us, she didn't have those sharp, intimidating eyes, which made her appear even more gentle. But she still couldn't hold a candle to Namgung Bi-ah’s ethereal beauty.
I looked at Gu Ryunghwa. “Did you call her ugly?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“I know, right? What am I even talking about?” It seemed there was some misunderstanding at play.
Gu Ryunghwa looked at me with a strange expression. “What?”
“…What’s your relationship with that woman?” She was staring at Namgung Bi-ah.
…Did I never tell her? Right, I didn’t.
“Uh… She’s…”
“Fiancée.”
Once again, Namgung Bi-ah cut me off.
Gu Ryunghwa froze solid upon hearing the word. Her eyes darted back and forth between me and Namgung Bi-ah before a deep frown of utter disbelief settled on her face. Her expression clearly said, ‘…But how?’
To be more precise, she was probably thinking, Someone like you is marrying her…? Really?
Whatever her thoughts, explaining our complicated circumstances to her would be difficult.
“…You came all the way here with your fiancée?”
“Not exactly… we just met on the way.” We really did run into each other mid-journey. However, Gu Ryunghwa would probably never believe it was a coincidence that we met en route to this specific place. …But it really was.
Lost in thought, Gu Ryunghwa gazed at Namgung Bi-ah for a long moment before something seemed to click in her mind. Namgung Bi-ah stared back with her usual emotionless face.
Gu Ryunghwa got up, brushed the dirt and grass from her clothes, and slowly trudged over to Namgung Bi-ah. Expecting her to retaliate verbally, I prepared to intervene, but to my surprise, Gu Ryunghwa bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you for your guidance.”
She was showing respect to the very person who had just put her in such a miserable state. Namgung Bi-ah studied her for a moment, then reached out and gently patted a stray blade of grass from Gu Ryunghwa’s shoulder.
Gu Ryunghwa flinched at the touch but continued in a small voice. “…I also… apologize for speaking so rudely.”
Why was she looking at me when she said that?
After Gu Ryunghwa apologized, Namgung Bi-ah followed suit. “…I’m also sorry…”
Huh…? Why are they apologizing to each other all of a sudden?
As I stood there dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, Gu Ryunghwa started running off into the distance.
“Where are you going?”
“Mind your own business!” she shouted back, seemingly angry at me for reasons unknown. She bowed once more to Namgung Bi-ah before disappearing into the forest.
Even though I was the one who saved her… “What’s up with her…?” I truly had no idea what was going on anymore.
After Gu Ryunghwa left, Namgung Bi-ah approached me, wearing an awkward expression.
“…I wasn’t going to actually hit her…”
I smiled at her excuse. “I know.”
The minuscule amount of Qi in her sword and the controlled force of her swing made it clear she was only trying to intimidate Gu Ryunghwa. Still, I had intervened, thinking she might get hurt, so part of the blame was on me too.
Seeing Namgung Bi-ah standing there awkwardly, I asked, “What were you doing with her anyway?”
“…I was just having a duel with her.”
“…Right, that makes sense, since it’s you.” How can anyone be this obsessed with duels? Maybe she’s also possessed by a ghost like me? The thought genuinely crossed my mind.
Namgung Bi-ah suddenly asked, “Um…”
“Hm?”
“You know her…?”
I paused, wondering what she meant. Following her gaze to where my sister had run off, I understood. Oh, did I never tell Namgung Bi-ah about her?
“She’s my little sister,” I said nonchalantly.
“…Huh?” So she had been dueling with my sister without even knowing who she was? I guess it made sense; we didn’t look much alike.
However, the expression that dawned on Namgung Bi-ah’s face after my response was deeply problematic. I had never seen her make a face like that in either of my lives.
“…What’s wrong?” I asked, compelled by her strange reaction. It was the first time I’d seen her look like that—a mix of despair, shock, and a myriad of other negative emotions.
“…M…”
“M?”
She started mumbling something too quiet to hear. I leaned closer.
“M… Mess…”
“What?”
“I messed up…”
She repeated those three words over and over. I didn’t know what she thought she had messed up, but I was used to Namgung Bi-ah being weird, so I just let it go.
* * *
The next day arrived without incident. Thankfully, I had managed to get another room and enjoyed a good night's sleep.
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t comment, but judging by her face, Wi Seol-Ah was definitely disappointed. I felt a little bad, but since I’d arranged it with Hongwa beforehand, Wi Seol-Ah was taken to sleep in a different room. Thanks to that, I slept well for the first time in a while.
Elder Shin’s incessant rambling was annoying, but I was tired enough to fall asleep even with his madman's monologue.
Feeling well-rested, I thought I could handle training with Yung Pung. I was wrong. Terribly wrong.
I swear this sect’s training is torture in disguise. Self-torture, at that.
I returned to the lodge with trembling legs and collapsed onto the floor the moment I entered my room. My Qi usually regulated my body temperature, preventing me from sweating or feeling cold. But today, I was drenched.
And they do this crazy training every day? This really is a sect of perverts.
[…What did you just say?]
Elder Shin started cursing again, but I ignored him. I was used to his shouting by now.
As I lay sprawled on the floor, sweating profusely, a glass of water was set down beside me. It was Wi Seol-Ah, who always did this when she visited.
“Young Master, are you okay…?”
“No… I’m not okay.” Exhausted and lying on the floor, I was far from okay.
I asked her about Namgung Bi-ah’s whereabouts, having not seen her all morning. “Sis went out a bit ago!” she replied.
Is she training with her sword arts somewhere?
I picked up the glass with my still-trembling hands and gulped the water down. It tasted incredibly sweet, a sign of how parched I was.
While I drank, Wi Seol-Ah began wiping my sweat-drenched hair with a towel. It was pointless since I was about to shower, but I appreciated the gesture.
“Thanks.”
“Should I bring you more water?”
“Nah, I’m good.” I pushed myself up into a sitting position, every muscle in my body aching from the monstrous training.
Wi Seol-Ah moved closer and nudged her shoulder against mine. “What’s up…?”
“You can lean on me!”
“On you?”
“Mhm!”
Do I look that tired? I always teased Wi Seol-Ah for being round, but she was actually quite slender—so skinny I thought a strong breeze might carry her away. Yet, somehow, she possessed surprising strength for household chores. But, it was Wi Seol-Ah, so I didn't question it too much.
I leaned on her shoulder, and she didn’t wobble in the slightest. She really has a fascinating body…
[You feeling glad?]
I almost laughed at Elder Shin’s question. Glad? I looked at Wi Seol-Ah. She was gazing at the pond in the lodge's courtyard with her usual placid expression. Was she admiring the fish? Or thinking about eating them? The latter thought made me nervous, given her history of wanting to eat strange things. Although I don’t think even she would go that far… I hope.
As I stared at her while leaning on her shoulder, she suddenly turned her head, and our eyes met. Wi Seol-Ah smiled brightly.
My mind went blank. The proximity made her smile hit me harder than usual.
…Her face really is a weapon of mass destruction. Maybe I need to start covering it up now rather than in a few years? Even in her servant's uniform, it was easy to imagine how stunning she would be when she fully matured. That’s why I considered veiling her face sooner, even though I knew I couldn't be by her side forever.
I then wondered what the Sword Venerable and my father were thinking.
“Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
She had called my name but didn’t continue. Wi Seol-Ah just kept staring at my face. I stared back, feeling like I might get lost in her deep, black eyes.
Why is she just staring without saying anything? I was about to ask when—
“Young Master Gu—!”
Yung Pung suddenly appeared, a bright smile on his face. I feel like this has happened before… Maybe it’s just me?
I straightened up as Yung Pung reached my lodgings. Seeing us, he awkwardly averted his eyes. “What brings you here?”
“…Uh, I… apologize. It seems like I interrupted you.”
“…Huh? No, I wasn’t doing anything.”
[You even held your breath back there… you liar.]
Yung Pung still looked nervous. I thought it was because of me, but I noticed his gaze flickering toward Wi Seol-Ah.
Curious about his odd behavior, I glanced at Wi Seol-Ah, but she was just smiling as usual.
“Master Yung Pung…?”
“Uh… Oh, I just came to ask if you want to have a meal together since we finished our training…”
I tilted my head in confusion. Why come all the way here to ask me? Don’t they usually eat together as a group? It seemed like something was going on behind the scenes.
I had to eat anyway, so I accepted. “Sure. Have a seat; I need to take a shower first.” I was drenched in sweat.
“Huh…?”
“You should just wait here. You probably don’t have anywhere else to go, right?”
“No, I’ll just rest on the ground or climb a tree. Please, just come back quickly.”
“…Oddly specific and contradictory of you, isn’t it?” Why was he acting so strange?
“Anyway, just wait here. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
“Wait—!”
I heard Yung Pung call out as I left, but I hurried off to shower, feeling quite hungry.
I wonder why Yung Pung is acting so weird today. Maybe he went crazy from training too hard? That seemed the most likely explanation.
As I walked to the shower, Elder Shin spoke up in my head. […You, did you not see the girl’s face?]
“Her face?”
[You don’t even know how to look at one’s expressions now, do you?]
What is he talking about? I thought she was just smiling as usual.
[…Or maybe she hid it on purpose? She looks like a puppy, but she is foxier than I thought.]
What nonsense is this old man spouting now? I ignored him, thinking he was just rambling again. No matter how I looked at it, Wi Seol-Ah was no fox.