Chapter 180: A Winter That Isn’t Cold (2)
By the time Moyong Hi-ah and her servant returned to her room, night had already fallen.
After changing her clothes and finishing a quick wash, she sipped the tea her servant brought her, buried herself under the covers up to her neck, and finally closed her eyes.
As she shut her eyes, memories of earlier began to flood her mind.
The image of the boy who never once glanced her way, no matter how close she tried to get, rushed in.
And the boy, who somehow gave off a dazed vibe the entire day.
Also,
“Please don’t do things that unnecessarily burden yourself. It also creates trouble for others.”
The boy’s words echoed in her ears as if he were still right beside her, particularly when he added,
“Especially since you’re so sensitive to the cold.”
How did he know that? She was sure she had never hinted at it!
Her breath, her gait, even the way she tucked her hair behind her ears—she had never compromised her demeanor.
“Did I give it away by accident?”
That seemed unlikely, given that she had lived her entire life learning to mask the cold.
So, she didn’t expect that the boy would notice.
Yet, his words were far too nuanced to be dismissed as casual chit-chat in the chilly winter.
“Gu Yangcheon….”
Despite belonging to a prestigious lineage, very little information surfaced about the boy.
And in just a few days, he had become more renowned than anyone.
Now, he would likely be referred to more by his title than his name.
With a blaze that could squash adversaries, he became a living nightmare for the contemporary young prodigies.
In the face of such a thick, towering wall, how many would have the courage not to despair?
“…The Lightning Dragon appeared to have already crumbled.”
Namgung Cheonjun hid after his spar with Gu Yangcheon.
The last time he was seen was when the Young Lord of the Peng Clan appeared to take him away.
Thanks to that, the carefully devised plan of Moyong Hi-ah had twisted into something unrecognizable.
It had probably been garbled from the moment she encountered Gu Yangcheon.
What she hated most was when her plans unraveled.
However, this time felt different.
“…Why is that?”
She asked herself this but already had the answer buried deep within.
The strange feeling she experienced upon meeting him solidified through their upcoming match.
And today, it had cemented into certainty.
He was her hope.
Her hunch was urging her not to let go of him.
Even without her intuition, she knew.
Moyong Hi-ah gently stroked her stomach with her hand.
“It’s warm….”
There was still a lingering warmth in her dantian.
Heat.
That was a word that had never entered Moyong Hi-ah’s vocabulary.
To think she could obtain something she longed for just by briefly holding a boy’s hand seemed both absurd and inexplicable.
“…Hah.”
“So, this is what warmth feels like.”
In an unusually harsh winter, this small warmth provided her comfort.
“How is this even possible?”
The intense heat she felt during their fight was no mere fluke.
Through today’s revelation, she absolutely confirmed it.
The warmth emanating from Gu Yangcheon had an impact on the chill within her.
“Does it have something to do with his mastery of Flame Arts?” But she doubted it.
After all, she once obtained help from one of the skilled martial artists renowned throughout the Central Plains who practiced Flame Arts.
Despite receiving warmth from that master, the cold she felt inside remained resilient.
A cold that even natural fire, powers from demons, and martial artists’ Qi couldn’t dismantle.
Yet, Gu Yangcheon had dispatched it so effortlessly.
“…Could it be…?”
“He could heal this cold?”
Without realizing it, a hopeful thought took root in her mind, even though she was fully aware that such sentimental thinking was far from her true nature.
Was it just Gu Yangcheon who was capable of such warmth?
She had no answer for that.
But what mattered to her was that his heat had given her warmth.
Although most of that warmth had faded and only faint tendrils remained, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t escape the feelings tied to that initial warmth.
So warm.
So cozy.
She pulled the blanket closer, hoping it would keep the warmth from escaping.
“…Just a few days left.”
Moyong Hi-ah estimated that it was only a matter of days before Gu Yangcheon departed Hanam.
In her eyes, he didn’t seem like the type to cherish distant travels.
He indeed appeared soft-hearted toward the women around him, but ultimately, he was in control of the situation.
Thus, any changes to his itinerary would be rare.
“…What should I do next?”
As she tried to map out her strategy, her thoughts twisted like a pretzel.
For someone who was normally adept at constructing plans in no time, she couldn’t think of anything since her mind was swirling with the memories of his voice and the way he looked at her.
“Could you give me your hand for a moment?”
!!!
Triggered by the boy’s voice echoing in her mind, Moyong Hi-ah shot upright from her bed, blanketing herself like a burrito.
“…Hah… Hah…”
Only then did she realize it; something felt off about her.
For some reason, a chilly ambiance pervaded the guest house.
And it wasn’t just due to the winter night’s chill.
Wi Seol-Ah sat frozen, her food untouched.
Namgung Bi-ah was casting me the cold shoulder without realizing it.
And Tang Soyeol’s furtive glances were sharper than usual.
Even Muyeon seemed to bite back his scolding, sealing his lips upon sensing the mood.
“…I’m doomed.”
Lately, this was the strongest feeling of crisis I had experienced.
Having faced so many perilous moments up to now, this one felt significantly more dangerous.
“…Um.”
“…You said you would tell me.”
Just as I was about to speak, Namgung Bi-ah’s words interrupted me.
“You promised to inform me if you went somewhere.”
A rare wave of emotions flowed from Namgung Bi-ah was palpable.
Disappointment radiated from her expression, unmistakable.
She was clearly hurt by me.
That was serious for her—nothing short of a tidal wave of rage!
“…I’m sorry.”
Ultimately, that was the only phrase I could muster.
“That’s unfair.”
“Hngh.”
Wi Seol-Ah didn’t even look my way.
Her pouting was evident from the untouched plate before her.
“I also want to go with the Young Master.”
“We can go together next time.”
“When is ‘next time’?”
“…Well…”
Touché.
When would the next occasion roll around? I would have to return home soon, after all.
“But we go to various places together at home!”
“Except at the Young Master’s place, there’s no Shaolin Temple!”
I found her persistence puzzling, especially since the place was filled with bald monks and fish.
And pointing out that the fish was also technically a monk didn’t help at all; that place felt like it was only for monks.
“Oh… so, it’s really about the Shaolin?”
“[Kid.]”
“What?”
“You look unusually cheerful, which is rare.”
“Are you seriously trying to fan the flames while the house is burning?”
“Didn’t you know? I excel at driving people mad.”
Seriously, I just cannot stand Elder Shin’s laughter.
“Well, for now.”
After receiving a slap from both Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah, I felt utterly bamboozled, so Tang Soyeol’s sudden question hit me.
“How on earth did this happen?”
“And how did you guys find out?”
“Lady Moyong told us before she left.”
“What?”
“Lady Moyong said something before leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Goodnight!!
As I gawked in astonishment, Elder Shin’s laughter filled the air.
“Sounds like she got one over on you.”
“Did she disclose the details?”
“She did.”
I tilted my head upon hearing Tang Soyeol’s reply.
“So why ask me?”
Once I posed the question, Tang Soyeol glanced over at Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah.
“Because we have to hear from Young Master Gu directly.”
In essence, they wanted to learn the details straight from me rather than Moyong Hi-ah.
I didn’t know how to describe my feelings, but I felt somewhat special. And yet, under their scrutinizing gazes, I couldn’t shake off the pressure.
“I’d rather face Peak Realm contenders again.”
Frankly, standing before this crowd felt like being on the verge of a life-or-death situation.
Silence fell after Tang Soyeol’s remark, signaling that they were awaiting my response.
Understanding their sentiment, I eventually had to break my silence.
“…They were waiting for me outside.”
At my response, both Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah perked up.
“Lady Moyong?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know? She just appeared to be waiting.”
“And Young Master Gu opted to enter with her like that?”
“Well, the situation sort of dictated that decision, you know?”
“‘Sort of’ dictates how?”
“It just did?”
At this point, I was entirely confused about my own words.
“Did you bump your head? You’re malfunctioning right now.”
Then, Namgung Bi-ah gazed at me and said,
“Aren’t we going together?”
“Where?”
“To Shaolin Temple.”
“Why are you all fixated on that place?”
Because you went there with her.”
And there they go again, leaving me speechless.
Every time they brought that up, it felt like my tongue was tied.
Honestly, I had a million things I wanted to say, loads of excuses swirling in my head, yet I couldn’t express them.
Could it be those heart-wrenching eyes that pushed me into this bind?
As silence fell yet again, Muyeon, unable to withstand it any longer, stealthily slipped out with Hongwa.
With desperate eyes, I implored Muyeon, silently seeking help. But he didn’t even look back, leaving me to weather this storm solo.
Surely, this was your revenge for what I did earlier.
As my gaze darted around, unsure what my next move should be, someone said,
“I want to go too.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s voice dropped.
“I also wish to join you.”
“To Shaolin?”
I was baffled by Namgung Bi-ah.
After all, she didn’t seem the type interested in that sect.
Shaolin had absolutely no relation to swordplay.
In response to my bewilderment, Namgung Bi-ah shook her head and stated,
“Anywhere.”
Ah.
It was only then that I began to perceive her emotions.
Jealousy.
An emotion I never thought Namgung Bi-ah would harbor for me and an unfamiliar one for myself as well.
I never expected her to feel this way about me.
“Um…”
Noticing this revelation made uttering my next words a challenge.
A warm sensation surged within me, yet uncertainty flooded my heart, causing me to stammer.
“Then… let’s go together.”
Upon my utterance, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened considerably.
“All together.”
Her lips subtly shifted, indicating a slight change.
I could feel the weight of her emotions shift through that minor change, yet I couldn’t think of another solution.
Fortunately, both Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah appeared satisfied.
“Do they really seem satisfied?”
“Aren’t they?”
“Fine, their expressions scream they’ll let you off the hook this time. Honestly, had I known I’d witness this after waking up, I’d rather stay asleep.”
“…”
After finally voicing my intentions, I stuffed food into my mouth and made my way up to my room.
As I climbed the stairs alone, voices from below caught my attention—Wi Seol-Ah, Namgung Bi-ah, and Tang Soyeol seemed engaged in hushed whispers.
However, upon meeting their eyes, they promptly shut their mouths, as if nothing had happened.
“What could they be discussing?”
While I was slightly intrigued, the atmosphere didn’t lend itself to any inquiries, so I quietly slipped into my room.
Relief washed over me as I settled on the bed, thankful I had survived that encounter.
“You look like you crawled out of a pit filled with demons.”
“It’s kinda accurate, don’t you think?”
“What a ridiculous statement. Do you really believe there’s a happy pit like that?”
I lacked the energy to argue back with Elder Shin, so I pulled out the book I had picked up earlier.
Judging by the fact it hadn’t been singed, it seemed to be crafted from demon leather.
“Is this important?”
Outwardly, the book didn’t look extraordinary, so I didn’t think it was significant.
“Are you really going to read it now?”
“Better now than later.”
Thus, I flipped it open.
“Hmm?”
I instinctively uttered as I glimpsed the first page.
Within were awkward notes in clumsy handwriting, filled mostly with poorly drawn human anatomy.
Quickly, I turned the pages.
Flip, flip.
With each successive page, I began to recognize certain details.
The meticulous movements and detailed descriptions hinted at something specific…
“…Is this martial arts from Shaolin?”
It appeared to all relate back to Shaolin, specifically concerning their advanced martial techniques.
Swish.
In the dim, hollow chamber, the only sounds were that of a brush scratching against paper.
An elder stood, calmly writing a letter.
The tea before him had long cooled, losing warmth, yet the cup remained untouched, filled to the brim.
“Grandmaster.”
A voice from outside made the elderly man’s keen gaze turn toward the door.
Nevertheless, his hand continued to glide over the paper.
“Enter.”
Upon receiving the elder’s nod, a man entered, as if awaiting his command.
Adorned in black, with his face obscured, he approached cautiously and offered respect.
While the man demonstrated his manners, the elder’s focus remained unwavering upon his writings.
“Number Three has been eradicated.”
Pause—
Only then did the elder cease his writing at those words.
“Eradicated?”
“Yes.”
Eradicated?
The old man found this term incomprehensible. They were beings who could only meet their end due to the passage of time, after all.
But now, they claimed that Number Three had died?
The elder’s gaze sharpened at the man.
The man flinched under the elder’s scrutiny but bravely continued,
“The connection of energy has been severed. It seems like he touched the shackle.”
“Number Three, that fierce one, right?”
“Yes.”
“He’s the one who repeatedly threatened to kill me, wasn’t he?”
“While his personality was grating, he accomplished tasks efficiently.”
Oddly enough, that made the elder ponder the circumstances surrounding his demise.
“Touched the shackle, you say…?”
“Yes.”
“I hope he didn’t disclose any crucial information.”
“If Number Three had messed with the shackle, it implies he encountered a perilous situation.”
“Perhaps the Murim Alliance has caught wind of this?”
Yet, that seemed wildly improbable.
These beings wouldn’t be spotted even if the Three Heavenly Venerables were brought forth.
However, lingering complacency was still a mistake.
“Should the Alliance have sensed anything…”
At minimum, it could lead to problematic situations, especially if the filthy fiend Wi Hyogun caught wind of it.
The elder rummaged through his robes, retrieving a differently colored letter, and gripped his brush.
“Send others to investigate and check for traces left behind.”
“Understood.”
He hastily scrawled a few lines before passing the note to the man.
“Make sure this reaches the Palace Lord.”
“Shall I dispatch it right away?”
“Yes, and also mention that delays in Shaolin-related matters are likely.”
“Understood.”
As the man prepared to exit, the elder halted him with a firm command.
“One moment.”
“Yes, Grandmaster.”
“What’s the current status concerning the Gu Clan?”
“It appears to be an opportune time, so I’ve dispatched some children to Hanam in advance.”
The Gu Clan’s situation referred to the letter sent by the First Elder of the Gu Clan, Gu Changjun.
While the contents were cloaked in polite language, the undertone conveyed an appeal for help with internal clan politics.
“How trivial.”
The elder held this thought internally but accepted the request nonetheless due to the favors Gu Sunmoon had presented.
It triggered a faint smirk on his visage.
“It seems they still can’t grasp the futility of their desires.”
Although Gu Changjun had reached a certain level of martial prowess, he evidently still didn’t comprehend this reality.
Some desires simply weren’t to be coveted.
“Wasn’t the target the son of the Gu Clan?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t recall him being particularly relevant. Gu Changjun must have felt similarly, as he hadn’t elaborated much about the lad.
Yet the fact that he’d only brought it up now suggested that perhaps.
“It seems the old fox is growing impatient.”
The elder took a sip of tea that had cooled long ago.
“Gu Yangcheon, was it?”
“Yes, reports indicate that people have been reaching out, but I’ve heard he exhibited talent in one of the tournaments.”
“Hmm… It appears he has inherited some ability.”
The son of none other than Gu Cheolun.
To the elder, the thought of him lacking talent would have been far more surprising, given the bloodline.
“Though he might be a mere young prodigy, caution is necessary, especially because he’s that man’s child.”
The boy once deemed a good-for-nothing had suddenly begun to bloom his talents.
“And this offspring of the Gu Clan currently finds himself in Hanam.”
Although the elder recalled that Number Three had also briefly been in Shaolin, he shook his head immediately.
Given the number of young prodigies converging in Hanam due to the tournament, it was ridiculous to link the Gu Clan’s boy with Number Three.
The elder believed he might have meandered off-track.
“No issues should arise, will they?”
“No.”
“Alright. Proceed as planned.”
At the elder’s command, the man bowed deeply before disappearing through the door.
Creak.
As soon as the man left his field of vision, the elder leaned back in his chair.
Due to his closeness to the candle flame, the long scar that once ran along his neck, where a dragon tattoo had originally resided, had faded.
The elder gently rubbed the nape of his neck.
Even after the passage of so many years, the pain from that scar still lingered.
Whispering softly to himself, the elder said,
“We won’t be long until we meet again; just wait.”
The elder, once known as the Black Dragon, murmured the name of his long-lost friend into the shrouded darkness.
“Wi Hyogun.”
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