Episode 53
Guyang Jihee was in an excellent mood.
Getting her hands on the finest tea leaves had played a part in it, but there was a bigger reason behind her smile.
The warmth and fragrance of the tea seeped gently into her body.
"…."
The woman seated across from her set down her teacup and asked cautiously, "Lady Jihee, has something good happened lately?"
The bright, clear voice pricked at her ears.
It was So-eun, who had recently taken an interest in tea leaves as well.
"Me? No. Nothing in particular."
Dorin, who had been burning incense in the censer, chimed in.
"Really? You did seem happy to me."
"I wonder? It’s not like anything especially good has happened…."
She let the end of her sentence trail off as she looked around vaguely.
Pairs of glittering eyes were all fixed on her.
She had tried to wave it off, but if even oblivious Dorin had noticed, then she was practically exposed already.
So I must have been smiling without any elegance. Honestly… I still lack discipline.
She took another sip of tea.
The faint aroma was exquisite.
Even while she drank, the corners of her mouth twitched and slowly lifted.
It was because of the information she had received from the investigator, and the man who had come to mind along with it.
"Could you tell us, Lady Jihee?"
"Yes! At this rate I won’t be able to sleep…."
"It’s rude, but… I was worried about something, and it looks like it’ll be resolved soon."
She couldn’t explain it in detail, but it was certainly true.
To think I’ve gotten hold of such a perfect weakness… Heaven really is helping me.
She nodded to herself, accepting that this must be the reward for always living kindly.
The ominous purple jewel she had found beneath the altar.
The man, Sojin, had clearly known something about it.
No matter how foolish a person was, if the Martial Alliance had even sent an investigator to search for that jewel, he would surely have realized at once that it was a rare treasure of the Blood Cult.
And since she had heard nothing since then, there was no doubt he had kept it for himself instead of handing it over.
I’m glad I told the investigator I didn’t know much about it.
The corner of her mouth curled up.
He had stolen an important item obtained during the mission. Even if he returned it later, he would never escape punishment.
At best he’d be expelled; at worst, they might even cripple his dantian.
When they had been surrounded by the monsters, despair had wrapped around her heart so tightly she couldn’t see even a step ahead.
My eyes really weren’t wrong… I should have waited a little longer.
Now, hope was bursting up inside her like a spring.
The movement Sojin had shown came back to her again.
The sword strike that had split the monster in one blow. That self-assured expression on his face.
She had lost count of how many times she had replayed it in her mind.
"…."
Her cheeks flushed red, and her heart began to pound faster and faster.
He was on par with Wei Shiyun, the son of the Martial Alliance Leader… no, in swordsmanship alone, he was far above him.
Guyang Jihee could only stare, spellbound, at that clean, beautiful sword path.
When did he get that strong…? At this rate, I look like an idiot.
She didn’t know the exact reason, but the Guangdong Jin Family grew stronger with each generation. If ten more generations passed, they might even be able to aim for the strongest martial artist in the world.
Come to think of it, the current head of the Jin Family had a reputation great enough to be spoken of as the foremost sword in Guangdong, so his son couldn’t possibly be weak.
What a good thing.
But then she thought of Sojin’s cold eyes, and her heart went chill.
Hmph… I know. He’s angry with me, isn’t he?
Still, it didn’t matter.
She was confident she could win him back.
Even before, Sojin had ultimately chosen her.
Anger can be soothed.
She prided herself on knowing everything about her former fiancé.
And now she had a fine weakness in her hands as well, hadn’t she?
If she used a carrot and a stick properly, their relationship could become just as good as before—no, even better than before.
"Heehee."
Guyang Jihee spread both hands and gave a sly, sinister little laugh.
There wasn’t a shred of elegance left in her current appearance.
It was the sort of wicked grin one would expect from someone plotting something vile, yet it somehow wasn’t disgusting—perhaps because she wore the face of a lovely young girl.
At her inexplicable behavior, Dorin and So-eun exchanged glances and nodded.
After all, flattering her mood had become part of their routine by now.
"Congratulations, Lady Jihee! As expected, you’re amazing!!"
"Oh my! What a relief! If something is bothering you, you should deal with it quickly!"
"No, it’s not worth congratulating me over."
"No, really! This is the kind of thing only you, Lady Jihee, could do!"
"That’s right. If it were me, I couldn’t have done it!"
"Enough, both of you."
She waved them off and shook her head, but she didn’t dislike the praise one bit, and that made her feel good.
That was the kind of woman she was.
Heh… Cheon Sojin… you’ll be listening only to me again, just like before. It’s only a matter of time now.
With a pleased smile, she took another sip of tea.
Look forward to it, Sojin.
As long as she had his weakness, he was already in the palm of her hand.
*
“So she’s thinking, ‘I’ve got his weakness, so with this…’?”
If so, that was a truly stupid thought.
The purple jewel had already been smashed to pieces and scattered as dust.
There was no evidence, and the only witness was me—and her.
If I got there first and put my own version of events into words, the one who’d be in trouble was her.
“What, you think I’m going to pin a made-up crime on her…?” she might wonder, but what sort of person was she? Let’s take a slow look.
Guyang Jihee.
My former fiancée, and a woman whose martial ability was among the highest in the academy.
The Guyang Family, one of the Eight Great Clans, was an old and prestigious household.
As the daughter of such a noble family, Guyang Jihee had grown up showered with attention and affection since childhood.
And that was why she had developed such an arrogant, overbearing personality.
Would things have been any different if she’d simply come from a decent mid-sized sect?
How pathetic! Go die! You waste of space! Trash! Cripple!
The Jihee in my imagination smiled mockingly and raised her middle finger at me.
Of course, she hadn’t actually done any such thing, but it fit her so naturally that there was no sense of dissonance at all.
Not strange at all.
She was the kind of woman who was harsh to the weak and utterly merciless, even though she was a member of the righteous faction.
That much was obvious from the fact that she had tossed me aside and jumped onto a better branch.
She was beautiful on the outside, but what about her actions?
A gorgeous woman with pink hair reaching her neck, she stood there with her arms crossed beneath her generous chest and looked down at others with haughty disdain.
"I told you I’d make you regret it, didn’t I? Either come with me quietly, or get crippled and be dragged along by force. Choose."
She was so vicious she would even trample her former fiancé to hide her own shame.
And yet she still had quite a few followers, didn’t she?
I couldn’t tell whether they were just trying to scavenge a few crumbs from Guyang Jihee’s table or whether she possessed some leadership quality I didn’t know about, but even after I’d embarrassed her once, she still had enough hangers-on to accompany her with two or more academy students every time, and although their relationship had soured, Wei Shiyun was still by her side—for now.
They say birds of a feather flock together. Guess that old saying wasn’t wrong after all.
They were probably all cut from the same cloth.
A woman who pursued profit and never hesitated to betray others.
Still, publicly, she was seen as a noble young lady from a prestigious family, with some influence in the academy and decent martial skill to boot.
I felt no guilt about hitting such a repulsive woman where it hurt.
I had no intention of utterly ruining her.
It would be a pain for her, sure, but she was a descendant of a great family—she’d find a way out on her own.
"…."
I didn’t know what he had made of my silence, but Jong Jinwon poured me another cup of tea and spoke apologetically.
"There was nothing else unusual. I’m sorry I wasn’t much help."
Steam rose hot from the teacup.
"Jong So-hyeop, just hearing what you’ve told me has been a great gain for me. Thank you."
It wasn’t just empty politeness.
Jong Jinwon had told me everything he knew. Thanks to that, I’d been able to organize my thoughts as well.
Just then, one of the members of Jongcheondae hurried over and said, "Leader, the break is over now. Should I bring the next applicant in?"
Already?
I set my cup on the table and stood.
Time to go.
I’d pay a visit to Raeji-sabnim next.
"Jong So-hyeop, you’ve got work of your own, so thank you for making time. Then I’ll see you again another time."
"…."
As I clasped my hands in salute, Jong Jinwon fidgeted and kept glancing at me in an uncharacteristically awkward way.
Strange.
"What is it?"
"Well, Cheon Dae-hyeop. It’s just that…"
He dragged it out. He was clearly choosing his words.
"Jong So-hyeop? What is it? Just say it plainly. Haven’t we got that sort of relationship?"
"…It’s shameless of me, but there’s something I’d like to ask of you, Cheon Dae-hyeop."
That was when I understood.
The reason he had so readily accepted my request.
He had something he wanted to say to me, just as I had something I wanted to ask him.
Right. If there’s one way in, there’s one way out.
I’d hear him out first and decide after that.
If I could help, I would. If not, I wouldn’t.
With my arms folded, I nodded and said, "What do you need help with?"
"Could you help me head to the Central Plains?"
"Is this about qualification for the Martial Tournament?"
"No. Supporting the strike team is my final assignment."
Not because of the Martial Tournament?
Jong Jinwon was already a master at the Super Peak level, so he could finish most tasks in no time.
If he was asking for help, then whatever it was, it clearly wasn’t ordinary.
"Is it something to do with the Blood Cult?"
"No, it isn’t."
"Then what is it? You might as well tell me now."
"…."
After hesitating for a long while, Jong Jinwon finally opened his mouth.
"Cheon Dae-hyeop…."
"I’m listening. Go on."
As expected, this was no ordinary matter.
"Would you meet my older sister once? She’s a truly kind younger sister…."
And at the same time, it was something I had not expected at all.
"…."
Jinwon-ah.
Why are you like this too?
##