Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Suspicion
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'I had no idea...'
I gazed at the back of the Faceless Golden Ghost as he returned to the drinking party, blissfully unaware.
To think he was drinking because of a story like that.
It pained my heart to realize I'd treated him so carelessly without knowing about his past.
"Ugh, you drank so much earlier, and you're putting away even more? I won't take responsibility if you get sick."
"Running out of liquor scares me more than getting sick. Here, let's crack open another jar."
"Heh heh, at this rate, we'll sell out before we even hit the road."
The amount he'd already downed was staggering, yet he poured another round without a hint of discomfort.
Realizing he drank with such compulsion to soothe the pain of betrayal by the woman he trusted made him seem somehow pitiable.
If he'd cultivated martial arts, that might explain it, but for an ordinary person to handle that much liquor without his body rebelling—it was unheard of.
Yet there he was, without a trace of agony. It made me wonder just how excruciating those memories must be.
The pain of the heart outweighed any bodily torment.
Betrayed by a woman he trusted, no less—it reminded me of my own disciple, shrinking me back even further...
'Wait a minute.'
Last time I'd examined his body, I'd seen traces of Mount Hua Sect martial arts cultivation, followed by a shattered dantian.
Back then, I'd assumed some circumstances and hadn't dwelled on it...
'...'
And on top of that, betrayed by a woman he trusted?
The coincidences piled up too neatly.
'Could it be...'
The thought that the Faceless Golden Ghost might be that boy I'd desperately searched for stirred an inexplicable emotion deep in my chest.
No matter how vast the Central Plains, there couldn't be that many people with such overlapping fates.
Thump thump
'No way... It can't be...'
I'd already met several suspects who seemed like they could be that boy.
In the end, they all turned out to be different people.
So the Faceless Golden Ghost must be...
'What am I even hoping for?'
I kept telling myself I'd apologize if I found him, yet here I was denying the possibility every time someone fit the bill.
To think I still couldn't pin down my own heart even at this level of attainment.
'It's probably because so much time has passed.'
Ten years, no less.
A span where the boy might well have succumbed to the world's harshness long ago.
Honestly, even if I found him now, I wouldn't know what to say.
I'd always vowed to apologize, but I had no clear words on how to compensate for the life and years I'd ruined.
With each passing year, the speeches I'd prepared lost all meaning.
Ten years was an invaluable stretch for a child who hadn't even reached scholarly age—a golden era of life I'd shattered through my own fault.
What could I possibly do now to repay that debt, even if I found him?
No—wouldn't showing my face before him be an insult in itself?
Wouldn't it just reopen old wounds for someone who'd clawed his way back from the pain and was now living well as a young man?
'What's the point of reaching this realm... when I still fall short in dealing with people...'
Master was right—people are harder than swords.
"Lady Sword, are you inside?"
Flinch
Lost too deeply in self-recrimination, I'd let my guard down. I hadn't even noticed the Faceless Golden Ghost approaching the carriage from outside.
"Ahem. What is it?"
"If it's alright, may I come in?"
"Do as you like."
He lifted the tent flap and entered the carriage.
Seeing him amid my turmoil only deepened the ache in my chest.
"You seemed like you couldn't eat properly earlier because of me, so I brought some food. If the drinking party's too much, eat here in the carriage."
The plate he held was laden with dishes.
I waved it off without a proper look.
At my level, skipping a few meals caused no discomfort, and as a Daoist, I avoided stimulating foods or meat. There wasn't much edible at a men's drinking bash anyway.
"I appreciate the thought, but as a Daoist..."
"I heard you avoid spicy foods and meat, so I prepared accordingly and kept those out. Eat what you can; leave the rest if it's uncomfortable."
"..."
Sure enough, it was mostly grains and vegetables, with minimal seasoning.
And
"Where did the fruit come from...?"
There were even red fruits that hadn't been around earlier.
"It's a merchant caravan. They had fruit among the goods, so I thought you'd like some and bought it. Luckily, it's fresh."
"Fruit this time of year must be pricey...?"
"Didn't I get it all for free thanks to you? And with you covering the liquor tab, this little expense is nothing."
Even with his face hidden inside the hat, I could feel him smiling.
"We're traveling together to Anhui, right? If something makes one of us uncomfortable, we should accommodate each other. A one-sided sacrifice isn't healthy. I want to get closer to you, Lady Sword."
"Wha...!"
"Haha, I don't have many worldly connections, so don't feel burdened."
It was the most clichéd line in the book.
I'd heard tricks like that plenty of times before.
Flutter flutter
'A man, to me! Without any sense of propriety!'
Yet my face flushed hot all the same.
It had been ages since I'd achieved a heart unmoved by the world, but my body felt feverish.
As I fanned myself with my hand to cool off, he set the plate down and stepped out of the carriage.
"Oh, and Lady Sword. Don't worry about what I said earlier."
"I barely remember now. That woman."
Swish
With that, he left the carriage.
"...Is he being considerate?"
I'd scolded him first without knowing his side, yet here he was seeking me out to comfort me because I seemed bothered.
'Young later-generation talents must learn this stuff on purpose.'
Flutter flutter
I thought I'd grown used to it, but the heat rising in my cheeks wouldn't subside.
"Hoo..."
To feel emotions like this at my age.
He was a fearsome one.
I'd never heard rumors of him being tangled in womanly affairs, but this was no amateur's ploy.
The emotions he stirred felt utterly pure, but his skill was no joke regardless.
Crunch
To calm myself, I took a bite of the food he'd brought.
It wasn't exquisite, but it tasted decent enough.
And the fruit...
Crunch
Its juice was sweetly delicious.
A sugary tang lingered in my mouth.
'No harm in getting friendly with a peak expert.'
Most martial artists never reach that realm in a lifetime of training.
He looked barely into his twenties, yet at that level? A monster among monsters.
A promising star who'd likely climb even higher... though that wasn't my concern since I'd be heading back to the mountains anyway.
'Come to think of it, someone like him must have a moniker.'
I wasn't well-versed in Central Plains affairs, but unless he hid his skills meticulously, he'd surely have earned one.
'Mount Hua Sect, sword user, young woman... Sword Peak? Sword Flower?'
I didn't know the rules for nicknames, so my guesses were limited to those.
Speaking of Sword Flower, it sent a chill through me—not the kind of auspicious vibe you'd want.
It felt like a title that'd bring bad luck to whoever held it or had held it. Not one I'd want nearby.
Hey, I'm a fortune teller. I can read vibes like that.
'He promised to cover liquor costs too... Guess I'll stick close in Henan.'
He'd pay until Anhui, so that included sightseeing and wandering around Henan.
He seemed familiar with the area, so if I played it right, he might even guide my trip.
Worst case, just tagging along would be a win.
She was a peak expert, after all.
Before leaving, I'd pondered hiring a guard for safety—now that worry was obliterated with her right there.
Follow her around, and my safety in Henan was guaranteed. Preemptively building rapport like this? I could suggest spots I wanted to hit.
That line about accommodating each other if anyone felt awkward? Not said lightly.
That's why I'd wielded a knife after so long.
Ten years of daily grass butchery in the mountains.
I knew how to coax max flavor from minimal seasoning.
Couldn't match worldly cuisine, but it wasn't inedible.
Even Master praised it now and then.
"Your veggie-chopping skills earlier were no joke. You cook often?"
"Pretty often, yeah."
"Heh heh, whoever your wife is, she's well-loved. That knife work had real affection in it."
"..."
Affection?
Get real.
I'd felt zero affection for that twisted woman.
[Do you see that tree? The one you planted as a disciple. It's grown taller than you now. Back then, it barely reached your knee.]
That woman...
"..."
...might not be a bad idea to check out Anhui souvenirs women would like.