Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: A Familiar Ceiling
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It was a familiar ceiling.
My room in the outer quarters of the Namgung Family.
I lay on the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
Who would've thought the day would come when I'd miss the Namgung Family? The journey from Yongning Castle in Liaoning all the way to Shaanxi Province. Even taking it easy, the constant travel had piled up mental fatigue.
It was peaceful.
I was grateful for the simple fact that I could lie here so comfortably. Staying at the Moyong Family had felt like sitting on a bed of nails. I tried not to care, but it grated on me whenever people whispered as they looked my way.
'I don't want to do anything.'
I wasn't doing anything already, but I wanted to do even less—more intensely, more proactively. What kind of nonsense is that? I don't know. My fingers felt too heavy to even twitch, yet I craved even more freedom in my idleness.
'I should unpack.'
It wasn't much luggage. Barely enough to take a moment to sort. But I left it be. I wanted to rest.
Maybe that was the root of the problem.
Lunchtime.
The sun had long been high in the sky.
From outside the window came the sounds of Namgung Family members diligently going about their day. Lying there with that bustle as background music only doubled the sweetness of my rest.
"Young master, have you eaten?"
With my afternoon schedule free, Yeonhui came by. She didn't look at my limp, sun-dried-squid self with pity... No, as always, she greeted me with a bright smile and asked after me.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"No appetite."
"I thought you looked thinner. You could eat a horse and it wouldn't be enough... Just wait a bit. I'll bring something."
"No. It's fine."
"They say eating is a habit. Did the Moyong Family starve you or something?"
"Nothing like that. I'll eat later, so don't worry."
Maybe it was the rebound from being apart so long, but Yeonhui was fussier than ever about looking after me. I appreciated it. I just genuinely had no appetite right now.
"Very tired?"
"A little."
"Makes sense. I heard Father had you run some errand, but to think it was meeting Immortal Sima Hyung... How far is that from Yongning Castle?"
"Eh. Call it sightseeing the jianghu after a long time."
"Exactly! You could've gone with me after returning here. The Immortal could even check our compatibility!"
Old man Sima Hyung.
How did this happen? He denied it so hard, but his reputation was basically that of a master fortune teller.
"Is that guy that famous?"
"Of course. There are plenty of fortune tellers and shamans out there, but most are con artists spouting nonsense. Immortal Sima Hyung, though—he truly reads the will of heaven."
"Hmm. I see."
"Even Father doesn't consult him unless it's a major matter. In a way, it was a good opportunity for you."
True, Namgoong Hyeok wouldn't beg some random hack. Meaning everything that prickly old man said had basis. Which was actually a problem.
'A fate plagued by women.'
If heaven decreed a fate, couldn't it at least be something useful? Like 'fated to reach the pinnacle of martial nothingness.' What was I supposed to do with women flocking to me? Better if he'd just bullshitted because he didn't like me.
"What did the Immortal say?"
"......"
"Young master?"
Yeonhui asked innocently, her eyes worried I might have heard something bad. Meeting her gaze made it hard to speak.
Could I even say it?
That women flock even when I just lie here?
But lying to Yeonhui felt wrong.
"Eh, just that things might not go as planned, so don't force my way—let it flow smoothly."
"That's pretty vague."
"Yeah. Even enlightened Daoists miss sometimes, right?"
"Hmm. The Immortal wouldn't end it so ambiguously..."
My choice: 'Don't lie.'
Well, why not? It's true.
I hate women flocking.
Sima Hyung said not to struggle to escape that fate. Same difference, right?
Yeonhui looked unconvinced.
"Nothing about me?"
"Dunno. He only talked about me. Should've tipped him or something?"
"Nah, he doesn't take that stuff. Something like, 'It must be done.' That's what he told Father when he tried offering a fortune in gold."
Figured he'd gotten something since nothing for me. Free service? Respectable, unlike Wudang shamans.
"Oh, duh. I almost forgot—I set aside something for you."
"What?"
"A gift. Felt like I should bring something back from the trip."
No point dwelling on Sima Hyung. To change the subject, I pulled a present from my pack: a handkerchief embroidered with flower patterns in the corner. Girls like this stuff, right?
"Nothing special. Saw it at a Shaanxi stall and thought of you."
"Young master..."
"Too plain? Disappointed?"
"No way. It's perfect—even the color's my taste. Thank you, young master."
Just a palm-sized handkerchief, but she took it like treasure. Wow. Reactions like this make gift-giving fun.
"Hm?"
"What?"
"It smells nice. The embroidery's rapeseed flowers, but it smells like roses? Weird. Laurel blossoms? Kinda like incense...?"
Rose scent.
Yeonhui's casual remark as she sniffed the handkerchief.
That set off alarms in my head—ring. Laurel blossoms. I'd heard the name recently. Intense rose fragrance piercing my nose. Ah.
"Young master?"
"Yeah."
"Nice scent, but feels like it's soaked in from somewhere else?"
"Haha, who knows? Travel packs get cluttered—stuff mixes. Happens all the time."
"......"
Too unnatural?
Yeonhui didn't reply. Just furrowed her brow thoughtfully. Then my senses sharpened abruptly.
What the—
Sensitive as in a life-or-death duel.
"Weird. Why's your pack full of woman's perfume?"
"Yeonhui?"
"Just curious. So strong it seeped into my gift. Care to explain?"
Chilling.
Cold like northern winds. Strange. This was Namgung Family, not Moyong. Why so freezing?
"Come to think, heard they grow laurel flowers up north—where flowers barely bloom. Funny coincidence, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Not 'yeah'! Confess already!"
* I explained to Yeonhui as gently and concisely as possible.
Moyong Hye gave me a sachet. After thrashing Moyong Cheon twice already, refusing a gift would've caused issues. Yeonhui frowned at Cheon lunging again but listened with a blank face.
"Young master."
"......"
"Why the worried face? I'm fine."
Her eyes said otherwise.
-If you cheat, I die, and so do you.
The warning before leaving Namgung Family.
Yeonhui's eyes matched exactly.
"Mad?"
Dumb to ask an angry person that, but it slipped out.
"Mad? At you?"
"Yeah."
"As if. How could I get mad at you?"
"You seem mad."
"I'm just... annoyed at that Moyong wench?"
Yeonhui spoke in a flat tone.
"Using her status as family head's daughter to force an unavoidable situation. So very Moyong bloodline. At least she has eyes... Well, even beady ones spot shining jade. Overstepping without knowing her place. Trying to leave traces like this? Obvious ploy—not even funny."
Whispering at first, Yeonhui's voice rose with emotion. I could only listen like a criminal to her vicious monologue.
"Young master. Is it because of what I said before you left?"
Yes.
Wanna bolt right now?
Yeonhui approached my silent self.
One step, one step.
Slowly, but clearly.
I accepted her arms wrapping from behind.
"That was just needless worry. You wouldn't cheat on me, right?"
Less faith, more inevitability.
That's what she seemed to say.
"Even a traveler sheltering from rain doesn't call the hut home. It happens. So I don't mind this at all."
Why does that sound like it bothers her?
Such thoughts arose.
No two people should meet, in any situation.
"Young master. Getting hungry, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Stomach's rumbling."
"Right? Heard good fish came in today. I'll bring some quick—wait here."
I must've been hungry.
Probably.