Chapter 52
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Did He Get Possessed?
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Is that guy possessed or something? There's no way that timid little punk turned into this sly operator in just four years.
As I blankly scanned Baek Geon, who looked utterly unfamiliar, a perfectly reasonable suspicion suddenly hit me.
“But was that really such a huge screw-up that you had to make amends for it?”
Let's be real—we weren't even friends. Did I really need to skip sleeping in just to see him off back then?
I raised the objection seriously, and the distance that had felt uncomfortably close began to slowly pull away.
“Yeah, I won't deny that it was an excuse to steal some of your time.”
Baek Geon smiled softly and added it like a joke.
“The real bummer was that I was counting on that promise for a spar this year, and then you went and grabbed one with Senior Brother Baek Yoon.”
Talk about a jab disguised as a joke. With nothing to say to that, I rolled my eyes before spitting out a straightforward apology.
“Sorry.”
Admitting your mistakes quickly and apologizing properly was always something Uihyeon emphasized as a virtue. Breaking a promise I'd made was on me, after all.
“Honestly, you looked so different from how I remembered that I didn't recognize you until I heard your name.”
I said it like an excuse, then hesitated as a sense of déjà vu crept in. This felt way too similar to how that one-eyed Namgung Seheon had run into me after four years and stepped all over me.
Me making the same mistake as that Namgung bastard? I should just bash my head in.
No, wait—unlike that giant, this guy really had undergone a total transformation!
“Good thing.”
To my surprise, Baek Geon just beamed at that.
“Even you think I've changed. I didn't want to be remembered as the timid crybaby from the rear mountain gate this time.”
“Everything else fits, but I never pegged you as a crybaby.”
I knew that was just the booze talking on my end. I just remembered him as the total parachute outcast, all huddled up and timid.
“People need a little of their old self left, or no one recognizes them. Hard to get used to when you seem like a whole different person.”
I grumbled, unwilling to admit my eyesight was as trash as Namgung Seheon's, and Baek Geon tilted his head with a cheeky grin.
“Oh yeah? So which do you like better—then or now?”
“What, you gonna swap personalities based on my pick? Live your life with some backbone and your own opinions.”
And for starters, your looks went from nerd to prom king levels straight out of a teen movie. Even if you wanted to go back, reverting to that old timid you is off the table now.
I replied indifferently and got to my feet.
Looks like training's off for today. Time to head back to the dorms for breakfast—I went to call for Biyeon, only to face an empty training ground.
“Damn, I haven't even memorized the full way back to the dorms, and you just bail on me?”
I grumbled at my utterly shameless junior sister, and Baek Geon, who had already stood up beside me, politely offered his hand.
“Let's go. I'll walk you back.”
“Do I have to hold hands?”
“It'd make me happy if you did.”
His eyes crinkled playfully. No, seriously—is he possessed or what?
I hesitated a bit, feeling bad about earlier, and gently placed my hand in his. His palm, warmer than average, naturally intertwined our fingers.
Eleven and nine. Standing side by side, the height gap was clear, if not quite as extreme as with Biyeon.
Our clasped hands burned hot, so I glanced sideways. There was Baek Geon's refined profile, stiffly facing forward. Even pretending it was nothing, his ears—bright red—betrayed him.
That glimpse evoked his old timid self, and I half-erased the possession theory from my mind.
For some reason, the silent walk back to the dorms felt way longer than when I'd come with Biyeon.
“Hey, next Dragon-Tiger Assembly, I'll definitely spar with you.”
My abrupt words drew his forward gaze to me. At the skeptical hum, I hooked my pinky and declared confidently.
“For real this time! I won't forget—I promise a spar! Of course, I'll win.”
Baek Geon, staring down at me, let out a soft chuckle.
“Really?”
“Yeah, as long as you don't pull another total makeover so I can actually recognize you.”
“Even if I do, recognize me. And spar with me.”
At that whiny plea, I hooked our pinkies and nodded. I might not spot him, but I'd at least make sure to set up a match.
The dorms loomed closer in the distance. A few steps from the entrance, Baek Geon stopped and released my hand.
“Oh, the greeting I wanted to give came way too late.”
Looking me straight in the eye, Baek Geon opened and closed his mouth a few times before whispering like a sigh.
“I missed y—”
“Argh, you're not at the training ground, so I figured—wait, what the hell are you doing here?”
The irritated interruption creased Baek Geon's elegant brow.
“I'll head in on my own, so butt out, senior brother. Since when have you cared about me like that?”
No trace remained of the kid who couldn't even talk back and just mumbled back then—his tone was icy as frost.
“Yeah, you only bullied the rear mountain gate kid when it suited you.”
I nodded along, and Baek Yoon ruffled his hair irritably before shaking his head.
“No, it wasn't me—Eldest Senior Brother was looking for you... Argh, you were like this back then too. Didn't your sect elders teach you not to stick your nose in other factions' business?”
Spotting me, he trailed off, then turned his arrows my way. I shrugged and shot back.
“Didn't yours teach you not to bully your juniors?”
“You think this is bullying? I'm living off orders to mind my own business with juniors?”
Seeing Baek Yoon bristle, I couldn't help but give him a deadpan look. Trains people like dogs, isolates them, the works—and now he's playing victim over this? Got any shame?
“Karma, duh.”
My sneer drew his chilling glare to the sword at Baek Geon's waist. I reflexively rested my hand on my own hilt and taunted.
“Think you can take me if you rush in?”
“Big talk from the guy who barely beat Three Talents Sword.”
“Dunno— that last move of yours didn't look like Three Talents Swordsmanship no matter how you slice it.”
Stung by the pinpoint fact, his glare sharpened, and I favored him with a winner's leisurely smile.
“And if that'd been Falling Petals Sword instead of Six Harmonies, you'd have lost more than just your sword.”
Baek Yoon ground his teeth and growled.
“We'll see next time we spar.”
“Nah? That was our last match. Cherish your lifetime 0-1 record. Oh, unofficial spars and dogfights? Always welcome.”
I dug in my ear with my pinky and waved my other hand lazily, and Baek Geon burst out laughing before draping an arm over my shoulder.
“That's how it is, senior brother. One broken prior commitment because of you is plenty for this side too.”
Baek Yoon's lips worked like he had something to say, but he just ruffled his hair furiously and stomped off.
What the hell happened in four years to make this personality wreck fold to the rear mountain kid? Seriously possessed?
Our tense standoff of three ended with Uiseong and Cheonghwi's arrival.
They looked surprisingly chummy now, apparently over it. A spar's win or loss wasn't worth fighting over, sure...
“What's this? Wudang vs. Mount Hua, 2-on-1 beatdown? Have some shame. What are two burly guys doing to one scrawny kid?”
Uiseong's words dripped with disapproval, and Baek Yoon snapped back curtly.
“This side's the 1. And for nine, he's pretty big, isn't he?”
“Still smaller than you, dude.”
Uiseong patted my head flatly with his palm and tossed us some brotherly advice worth its weight in gold.
“Kids, if you wanna fight, do it proper on the sparring stage. Scrap here and you get chewed out, but on stage? Pound 'em half to death—no one's saying shit.”
With a final “fight fair and come eat already,” Uiseong sauntered into the dorms first.
Once he was gone, Cheonghwi, who'd been watching us with hands behind his back, beckoned. Baek Yoon shuffled over sheepishly, but Baek Geon stayed by my side.
“Geon-ah, you coming?”
“Go ahead, Master. I haven't said goodbye yet...”
Cheonghwi smiled warmly at Baek Geon scratching his head awkwardly and turned with Baek Yoon in tow.
“Then we'll head in first.”
“Yes, Uncle Master.”
Baek Geon watched Baek Yoon meekly follow Cheonghwi, then turned back to me.
“You haven't changed.”
I spotted something in him unchanged from memory too. Big, clear hazel eyes.
Gazing at my reflection in them, a gentle hand brushed back the stray hairs loosened from my loose topknot.
“Still brimming with confidence, still kind.”
I was glad those eyes were the same. The soft vibe had faded a bit, but those clear eyes still screamed “not a bad guy.”
Yeah, he remembers me right. Not like Namgung Seheon calling me small and fragile. I never was fragile in my nine years of life.
“Of course. They say people who change... wait, no, not that you'd die from changing like you did—that's just a figure of speech... wait, what am I even saying...”
My words kept tangling up, and cold sweat beaded on me. Baek Geon laughed brightly and pulled his hand from my hair.
“No one's interpreting it that way.”
“Just in case.”
My excuse earned a crescent-moon smile.
No more delaying the goodbye—I took the hand he offered first, just like four years ago. After a simple handshake, his fingers slowly scraped across my palm as they parted.
“See you again. Don't forget the promise.”
Seeing him remind me nonstop about the spar, looks like he really wants a match with a strong opponent deep down.
I get it. Sparring weaklings is boring.