Chapter 167: True Dragon (1)
She firmly shut the windows to keep the cold wind out and sipped on a cup of hot tea made from dried medicinal herbs that added warmth to her body.
For an ordinary person, this hot tea would give off a significant heat, but for Moyong Hi-ah, it was only a mild sensation.
It merely warmed her insides a bit.
The cost of just a single little leaf was equivalent to a month’s worth of food for a farmer, yet she found it only mildly effective. That was a kind of extravagance that knew no boundaries.
Though it was provided by the clan, the price of using mere tea leaves instead of some medicinal elixir was exorbitant.
“…Isn’t it amusing?”
Moyong Hi-ah said with a bitter tone, sipping her tea slowly.
“I’m not sure what I did to deserve drinking this when I lost without being able to do anything.”
“…Young Lady.”
“No need to look at me like that.”
Seeing Tang Soyeol’s empty teacup, Moyong Hi-ah refilled it.
“What brings you here?”
“…”
“It seems like a busy time for you. Are you sure you don’t need to be elsewhere?”
The final match of the tournament was probably happening right now.
The duel was so highly regarded that even Moyong Hi-ah, huddled inside trying to fight the cold, could hear whispers about it.
It was particularly crucial for her guest, Tang Soyeol.
Because it was that boy’s fight.
“Young Lady Tang.”
“Yes…”
Moyong Hi-ah stared at Tang Soyeol’s face.
She had an adorable look that matched her green hair perfectly.
It was a stark contrast to Moyong Hi-ah’s own icy demeanor; Tang Soyeol looked almost like a small, cute animal.
Moyong Hi-ah noticed the emotions written in Tang Soyeol’s big eyes and spoke.
“I know that you feel guilty towards me.”
“…”
“And being the cunning person I am, I know how to use that to my advantage. I believe you’re clever enough to know this as well.”
Though Tang Soyeol didn’t respond, her silence acknowledged the truth in Moyong Hi-ah’s words.
The guilt that Tang Soyeol felt towards her was something that Moyong Hi-ah honestly couldn’t wrap her head around.
It wasn’t entirely her fault, after all.
To be precise, the only fault she bore was sharing the same surname as the Tang Clan.
“Is the burden from that day still weighing down on you?”
“It’s not just a burden right now; it will be for eternity. Even as time passes, it will remain my burden.”
“Why so?”
“Because I am forever a member of the Tang Clan, and the pain you’ll endure as a result will last forever.”
Pain.
“Just a scratch on my back?”
The scar on her back remained concealed beneath her clothes.
Moreover, the last person to see it, aside from her attendants, hadn’t been around for nearly a decade.
“I don’t think it’s just a mere scar.”
Tang Soyeol may have said it was nothing, but the Tang Clan had already given enough compensation.
After all, she could drink this tea now too.
And the fact that she was able to keep researching different methods to treat her ailment was largely thanks to the benefits the clan had offered her.
Sure, the results of those treatments had left her with scars and worsened her cold symptoms.
But even if she hadn’t tried to cure it, she figured it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
Ultimately, the clan’s compensation ensured she was okay.
That is, except for everyone other than Moyong Hi-ah.
Especially her father, the clan head.
“So, what brings you here on such an important day?”
“…”
“Do you even know the significance of this day to me? You just came to visit, not to apologize.”
“Would my apologies bear any meaning for you…?”
“To be honest, not really.”
It could even potentially be taken as an insincere gesture, given how cheap the inquiry felt to Moyong Hi-ah.
Even so, Tang Soyeol showed up like clockwork, never offering apologies.
‘But it’s just awkward.’
Moyong Hi-ah simply felt uncomfortable.
Tang Soyeol had been sending her letters every year from the Tang Clan.
And every time they met, the way Tang Soyeol seemed anxious around her was also quite unsettling to Moyong Hi-ah.
It would have been helpful if she could exploit those feelings…
‘…Sigh.’
But knowing Tang Soyeol was genuine made it difficult.
Even if it wasn’t her place to be picky about it.
“…I understand your feelings, but you don’t need to go to such lengths.”
The Poison Phoenix was known for being fierce and strict, which didn’t align well with her cute appearance.
If one didn’t know her nature, they might find her personality off-putting.
Moyong Hi-ah found herself rather similar in that regard.
However, in all their encounters so far, Tang Soyeol had appeared to be quite tender-hearted.
‘The way she has appeared lately… seems quite different from how I used to perceive her.’
In the past, she had seemed like a cute predator in sheep’s clothing, but now she resembled an entirely innocent squirrel.
Of course, judging by her behavior around Hwangbo Cheolwi earlier at the guesthouse, it seemed she still maintained the same personality.
However, the way she acted now with certain company could very well be closer to her genuine self.
To specify, she might be showing more of her real self around them.
With these thoughts in mind, Moyong Hi-ah turned her gaze from Tang Soyeol and opened the already-closed window to look outside.
Winter remained.
There was still a long way to go before winter ended.
It seemed like winter had concluded for Tang Soyeol…
Yet her own winter persisted with no end in sight.
‘Even as the season changes and temperatures shift, I will continue to feel this chill.’
‘Because that is how my life has been dictated.’
‘Would straining to break free change anything?’
That thought crossed her mind.
‘Or perhaps, struggling is simply futile.’
‘It might be that I was born just to fade away with the cold winds.’
“Young Lady Moyong?”
Had her expression seemed odd? Tang Soyeol called out to her with concern.
Tang Soyeol’s reaction was likely due to being one of the few who knew about Moyong Hi-ah’s illness.
“Were you perhaps injured during the fight?”
At Tang Soyeol’s question, Moyong Hi-ah smiled softly.
“No, I didn’t get hurt at all.”
That wasn’t a lie.
She genuinely hadn’t received any injuries at all.
Even after being engulfed by that enormous flame, there wasn’t a single scratch on her.
‘That must mean he had complete control over that attack.’
‘Hah. Should I even label that an attack?’
‘I was utterly powerless before that boy.’
‘I was fully aware of my inability to defeat him, yet I’d thought at the very least I could exchange a few blows.’
‘The difference in our levels was just too vast.’
It was the previous year when the individual who shocked Moyong Hi-ah most was the Sword Dragon.
The young man who could make plum flowers bloom revealed the overwhelming sword techniques that showcased Mount Hua’s legacy.
From that point on, Moyong Hi-ah thought no more prodigies would surface with talent greater than his.
The Sword Phoenix, the Sword Dragon, and the Water Dragon.
And beyond that, there was also Peng Woojin, the Heavenly Dragon.
Even one of these would have been enough to rewrite the current generation’s history with their genius.
Thus, she naturally never expected someone greater than them could possibly appear.
Yet, there was someone who had completely shattered her expectations.
Gu Yangcheon from the Gu Clan of Shanxi.
Moyong Hi-ah recalled the boy from Shanxi, but found herself at a loss for words.
No broader term like “genius” could capture his presence.
‘I thought he was just an eccentric guy.’
Initially, the girls surrounding him radiated such brilliance that they overshadowed him.
What Moyong Hi-ah thought initially was that he was a good-looking man with an abundance of female attention.
There was a charm to him that captivated others, and that was all.
‘And the odd way he treated me, coupled with his inappropriate glances…’
‘I presumed that was just a tactic to draw me in.’
‘But I realized I was glancing at him more than I cared to admit.’
‘Nonetheless, it didn’t take long before I understood that my perceptions had been mistaken.’
‘Hwangbo Cheolwi and that guy from the Gu Clan…’
‘What was his name again?’
‘He was from the same clan as Gu Yangcheon, so it was Gu something.’
‘Well, it really doesn’t matter if I forget his name; he’s not that significant anyway.’
‘Regardless, when an issue had flared up back at the guesthouse for a brief moment…’
‘I noticed everyone in Gu Yangcheon’s group was eyeing him.’
‘Though a different individual was facing Hwangbo Cheolwi, everyone remained wary of Gu Yangcheon instead.’
‘That made it clear who the central figure of the group truly was.’
As more time passed by…
‘I eventually learned the truth.’
‘It wasn’t that Gu Yangcheon’s presence was overwhelmed by those around him.’
‘He was subconsciously hiding his own presence.’
‘He was so radiant that he had to tone it down to the point that he risked going unnoticed.’
Moyong Hi-ah pressed her hand against her chest, reminiscing about the dazzling flame she’d witnessed the day before.
It brought back the sensations she’d felt then.
When she stood before Gu Yangcheon’s flames in the arena, the warmth that filled her was a feeling she would not forget.
‘…Was it a trick of perception?’
The moment when the overwhelming coldness seemed to melt away, allowing warmth to fill her chest.
Upon regaining her wits, she initially thought it had to be an illusion.
‘Does that even hold true?’
‘If the power of my ice could be dispersed just from standing in front of hot flames, then my existence couldn’t possibly feel this cold and lonely.’
‘I must have just been mistaking that sensation due to how vast and magnificent that flame appeared.’
That was how she rationalized it.
Yet…
‘…Maybe.’
Hope often germinates from the most trivial of things.
In a barren land, a single drop of water can seep through soil in search of sustenance.
However, Moyong Hi-ah’s emotions had long since frozen completely, making it impossible for her to believe in any hope.
“Young Lady Moyong, are you truly okay? Should I fetch someone?”
Tang Soyeol kept inquiring about Moyong Hi-ah’s well-being, noticing how strange her demeanor was.
Moyong Hi-ah took a moment to think, maintaining her silence before looking at Tang Soyeol and speaking.
“Young Lady Tang.”
“Yes…?”
“May I…request just one thing…?”
Knock knock.
Just as Moyong Hi-ah was about to finish her sentence, a presence was felt outside.
-My Lady.
The voice belonged to Tang Soyeol’s servant.
“What is it? I’m still in conversation with Young Lady Moyong.”
Tang Soyeol frowned slightly, appearing put off by the intrusion.
The servant seemed to catch onto this as her tone shifted to a more cautious one, but it sounded like she had come with an important message.
-It’s just that… earlier, the Young Lady had asked us to inform you when the battle was over.
No sooner had the servant finished than Tang Soyeol shot up, opening the door with urgency.
Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened in surprise at Tang Soyeol’s sudden action.
“W-What happened?”
Her curiosity was evident in her hurried tone.
Perhaps she had lied earlier about being fine with missing the fight, as she clearly seemed interested.
“Oh…uh, I was told that Young Master Gu won…”
“…!!”
Tang Soyeol extended her arms skyward, a cheer escaping her lips.
‘Just how ecstatic must she be to shout like that?’
“Oh…Ugh… I’m sorry!”
Realizing her reaction had been over-the-top, Tang Soyeol quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her face a mix of relief and embarrassment.
Seeing Tang Soyeol like that, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t help but let out a genuine laugh; it was a rare occurrence.
Her laughter seemed to embarrass Tang Soyeol, who turned slightly red, thinking she was being mocked.
‘Could someone change this drastically?’
‘Was it really something so happy?’
For Moyong Hi-ah, this was a mystery.
“Oh… Young Lady Moyong, earlier, didn’t you say you wanted to request something from me?”
“No, it’s fine.”
The words Moyong Hi-ah was about to say were swallowed back down.
It didn’t seem like the right moment to bring it up.
“I’ll visit you later.”
“Wait, you’ll come to see me, Young Lady Moyong?”
“I think there’s an occasion for me to stop by.”
Rather than asking Tang Soyeol for something, she thought it better to go herself.
Taking advantage of Tang Soyeol’s guilt couldn’t sit well with Moyong Hi-ah, especially since Tang Soyeol’s bright smile appeared so sincere.
“You should hurry and go. Don’t let it get too late.”
Hesitating for a moment, Tang Soyeol finally nodded, bowing her head slightly as she rushed out the door.
Moyong Hi-ah watched her departure, closing her eyes once more to lean back down.
For reasons unknown, she had the sudden urge to rest for a bit.
Exiting Moyong Hi-ah’s room, Tang Soyeol hastened her steps.
She felt an irritable tension building within her that needed venting.
‘So, Young Master Gu won.’
If that was the case, she thought it was a sure thing for Gu Yangcheon to triumph.
She had been captivated not only by his fierce gaze but also his incredible martial skills that matched his appearance.
His strength surpassed that of any other young prodigy, even in the eyes of the Poison Phoenix herself.
Yet for some surprising reason, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
If someone were to ask why she felt so happy for a victory that wasn’t her own, Tang Soyeol wouldn’t have a proper answer.
“I need to hurry and congratulate him.”
‘Wait, is that all I’ll do? Shouldn’t I bring a gift?’
‘If I remember correctly, this is his first Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.’
‘Hmm… Do I still have some toxic herbs left?’
Tang Soyeol carried with her herbs that were excellent for enhancing cultivation and recovering stamina.
Though she had saved them for personal use, she felt willing to part with them for Gu Yangcheon.
The only concern was the slightly potent poison still present in them.
‘Well, as long as I’m careful, I’ll be able to detoxify him.’
While eager to reach Gu Yangcheon’s barracks…
-Oh, so you’re saying that he’s not here right now?
She overheard some chatter near Gu Yangcheon’s barracks.
“Hmm?”
When Tang Soyeol turned to investigate, she found two familiar faces.
One was Wi Seol-Ah, Gu Yangcheon’s loyal servant, who always surrounded herself with an air of aloofness.
And the other was…
‘A beggar…?’
It was Chuwong, the notorious figure from the Beggar’s Sect who regularly appeared during the tournament.
Chuwong was someone Tang Soyeol had come across many times before.
While he didn’t leave the best impression, appearing overly modest and somewhat sketchy, she recognized him as a capable informant.
‘What on earth is he doing talking with Wi Seol-Ah?’
While lost in thought, she heard Wi Seol-Ah address Chuwong.
“Young Master isn’t here right now!”
“…Oh no, this was supposed to be the perfect time. So, you don’t know when he’ll be back?”
“Nope!”
…Sigh.
It looked as though Chuwong had come dashing over immediately after hearing of Gu Yangcheon’s victory.
One had to hand it to the Beggar’s Sect for their swiftness with such news.
While watching this interaction, Tang Soyeol approached them with calm deliberation.
She figured it would be better if she stepped in to talk; surely she could handle matters better than Wi Seol-Ah, as she was merely a servant.
“Ugh, was I perhaps too hasty? I could’ve sworn I’d heard that the conversation would resume after the tournament…”
Chuwong seemed to have already held discussions with Gu Yangcheon at some stage.
Tang Soyeol cleared her throat as she approached Chuwong.
“So could you please pass this message along to the True Dragon? Chuwong from the Beggar’s Sect stopped by.”
Upon hearing that, Tang Soyeol froze in bewilderment.
Her eyes widened in confusion, wondering if she had misheard him.
‘What did he just say?’
True Dragon…?
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