Chapter 228:
Wi Seol-Ah has left.
Not even a single letter or hint was given.
She departed the Gu Clan alongside the Sword Venerable.
…Why?
It’s an extremely sudden farewell.
I had anticipated that Wi Seol-Ah would eventually leave the Gu Clan,
But I never expected it would happen this soon.
Moreover,
The Immortal Healer as well.
Alongside the news of the Sword Venerable leaving with Wi Seol-Ah, I had to hear that the Immortal Healer also left the clan.
I asked Hongwa about this, but during the time when everyone was asleep, she said both the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah vanished without a single word.
I even thought about checking with the clan, but the butler simply informed me that the two had left.
This means Father already knew about this.
The departure of the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah.
It implied that Father was aware this would happen.
…Why didn’t she say anything to me?
I wondered.
Why didn’t Wi Seol-Ah tell me anything at all?
Did she not know she was leaving?
Then, why didn’t she even leave a letter?
What kind of situation was she in that…
As my thoughts spiraled deeper…
Grab.
I felt someone hold my hand.
It was Namgung Bi-ah, who was walking alongside me.
“…Calm down…”
With a concerned gaze, she looked slightly up at me.
Considering how I used to look up to her before, this difference felt strange.
“What do you mean calm down? I’m fine.”
I said, trying my hardest to act nonchalant.
Inside, I was torn apart like an earthquake was rumbling, but I couldn’t let it show.
Of course, even if I pretended, Namgung Bi-ah would probably see through it.
“Did you see?”
“…What…?”
“Her leaving.”
Namgung Bi-ah shook her head at my question.
This meant she hadn’t seen it either.
“…I see.”
Why did she leave so suddenly?
Just why.
But it was strange that she stayed in the clan for so long to begin with.
Despite my painful thoughts, that’s just how things were.
The time Wi Seol-Ah spent with me felt misaligned from the start.
The last time I met Wi Seol-Ah in my past life was when I was dragged away to the battlefront by the Fifth Army after causing a massive scene.
At that time, Wi Seol-Ah was a vastly different person from the one I knew now.
That meeting was also just a brief moment.
When we properly met, rumors started swirling that she was the official successor of the Sword Venerable.
Thus, her being with me was odd from the start.
By sheer coincidence after coincidence, things changed because of my regression.
And amidst all this twisting and turning, I thought it would end up like this.
Even knowing all that, my mind felt blank upon hearing that Wi Seol-Ah had disappeared.
Did I genuinely think that just because we spent time together, I could stay with her forever?
What a pathetic longing I had.
I had lost my sense of proportion.
-Young Master!
Upon hearing a voice, I instinctively turned around without a second thought.
Of course, I knew Wi Seol-Ah wouldn’t be there when I did.
Am I going mad?
Is Wi Seol-Ah leaving the clan truly enough to throw me into such disarray?
Or perhaps it’s because I realized just how much she meant to me?
Even I thought I was shaken up way too much over this.
A few days passed.
After completing my closed-door training and clearing up accumulated work, I repeated my practice.
I filled the training area with flames, extinguishing and igniting them repeatedly.
The stabilized Qi from my closed-door training never tired me out, allowing me to keep going endlessly.
Tracing a line with my fingertips, I torched away my emotions with the flames.
Elder Shin, whom I could consult for advice, wasn’t around right now.
He’d probably be asleep for a while.
That was how the conversation with that creature went.
I gained many things from my closed-door training, but it was also a time that bred more questions.
I had to relentlessly probe why that being was inside my body.
Did I ever find the answer?
I didn’t.
I might not have discovered the answer, but I had an elusive understanding of it.
In terms of comparison, it was about as little as a fingernail’s worth of understanding.
But even that was an overestimation.
…It almost felt like an avalanche of information.
Had I shown the slightest bit of greed during my conversation with that creature, I might have been consumed.
Looking back, it was most certainly a situation that would have played out.
[…Grrr… Crk…]
Just look at that.
I could feel the creature’s disappointment as it seemingly craved more.
…I would have preferred it if I didn’t know.
If I hadn’t been aware of the danger this creature posed, perhaps I would have felt more at ease.
Because if I didn’t, there would be one less thing for me to worry about.
[…Food…]
Hearing a displeased mumbling voice, I clenched my teeth.
Shut up; you’ll get your fill soon enough without you needing to nudge me.
[…Grrrr…]
The creature might be growling, but it probably understood me.
Blaze.
Tonight’s flame was still imbued with Taoist energy, glowing with a rich pinkish-red hue.
The Taoist energy safely stabilized the tumultuous energy of the Gu Clan, helping suppress the backlash from the rough martial arts style.
Clench.
I tightened my fist, controlling my Qi.
The energy that commenced from my dantian filled up my middle dantian, condensing and enlarging the flame I had summoned.
As I gazed at the flame, I summoned another type of energy hidden within my body.
Thud.
In an instant, my body expanded with strength coursing through it, and the heat I was building erupted, filling the surroundings.
Alongside that…
Blaze!
The pinkish-red flames gradually transformed into a blue hue.
“…”
I had enveloped the flames with Blood Qi.
As I gazed at the azure flame blazing before my eyes, the creature whined in my mind.
…This… I really don’t… like it…
It seemed to have an aversion to Blood Qi.
To be precise, it desired to consume it, yet it seemed to reject the energy within my body.
Quit your whining and hold still.
I had no intention of paying attention to the creature’s complaints.
After spinning my blue flames a few times in the air while controlling them…
Puff.
I extinguished the flames.
“Phew…”
It was still a struggle for me to sustain usage over a prolonged period.
If I push myself, I might manage it for a few minutes.
I could probably hold out for that long if I truly exerted myself.
However, that was only feasible if I disregarded the backlash I’d endure afterward.
Drip… Drip.
Even though I had never sweated during physical training, a mere bit of this pushed beads of sweat to trickle down.
As expected, it isn’t related to how much Qi I possess.
Regardless of how much Qi my body contained or how well I controlled it, using Blood Qi felt entirely separate.
“I guess it’s best not to use it unless necessary.”
Unless I found myself in dire circumstances, it’s wiser to avoid using Blood Qi.
After all, I still needed to discern why the Blood Fiend had implanted this within me.
As I wrapped up my training and sighed in relief, I sensed an approach drawing near.
“Good job.”
“…Ah, thanks…”
I instinctively reached out my hand before halting mid-motion.
It felt awkward since the one offering me water after training had changed.
“Young Master…?”
“It’s nothing. Thanks.”
Hongwa regarded me with a peculiar gaze.
I deliberately averted my eyes and took a sip of water.
After quenching my thirst, I inquired gently with a hint of curiosity.
“Nothing came, right?”
“Yes, nothing came. This is actually the fourth time you’ve asked today.”
“And you’ve answered each time?”
“Yes.”
“Did I?” I mumbled, scratching my cheek awkwardly.
Since there was nothing expected to come, I could understand how asking four times might be annoying.
“You’re asking because of Seol-Ah, right…?”
“Not particularly.”
“…”
Hongwa continued to watch me with that odd look, but I ignored it and walked past her.
I needed to wash myself since I was drenched in sweat.
While passing, I called out to Hongwa.
“Could you prepare some food?”
“…Understood.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
As I trudged out from the training grounds, Hongwa let out a heavy sigh once she was left alone for a moment.
“…Seol-Ah, where did you go?”
The sudden absence of the girl she treated like a sister was shocking for Hongwa, but it was likely the Young Master who suffered the most from it.
Even now, he walked around with those dazed eyes.
It wasn’t a great look for a direct descendant of a noble clan to act so distressed over the disappearance of a single servant, but considering the relationship between Wi Seol-Ah and Gu Yangcheon, Hongwa managed to grasp some of it.
After some idle worrying, Hongwa shook her head to dismiss those thoughts.
While it pained her to see Wi Seol-Ah, who was adored by everyone, leave, it was crucial she didn’t let these feelings interfere with her responsibilities.
With swift steps, Hongwa followed Gu Yangcheon’s path.
After taking my meal, I walked through the forest path of the Gu Clan.
Naturally, Namgung Bi-ah was by my side.
Recently, Namgung Bi-ah had started coming over at mealtime even amid her training.
Didn’t Tang Soyeol mention going to Sichuan?
This was information I was already aware of, so I wasn’t taken aback by it.
Tang Soyeol had told me she needed to make a short trip to Sichuan.
She mentioned she’d return before I finished my closed-door training, but that seemed impossible.
There was just too much distance between Sichuan and Shanxi for her to wrap things up in just two months.
“Now that I think about it,”
“…Huh?”
“What are you gonna do?”
While walking along the illuminated path, I queried Namgung Bi-ah, who was quietly accompanying me.
I was required to head to the battlefront due to the clan’s command.
I wasn’t bothered about going, yet I had concerns about Namgung Bi-ah. I couldn’t just leave her alone in the clan.
“Are you going back to your clan for a bit…?”
“I’m going with you.”
She answered emphatically, which I hadn’t anticipated.
“…To that place?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you go there too?”
I wasn’t departing for a short time nor was it a brief venture.
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t need to accompany me.
She would eventually head to the battlefront anyway, as it was a place every relation of a noble clan visited at least once.
She didn’t need to be bothered following me into combat—
“…Because you’re going…”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah’s casual statement left me momentarily speechless.
It was such a simple and straightforward remark, yet the weight behind it was way heavier than I anticipated.
“I’m not… going anywhere…”
“What do you…”
“…So… you don’t need to worry.”
Hearing those words from her while she tilted her head felt like a mental slap.
Worry?
Namgung Bi-ah spoke as if I was anxious about something.
Yet I couldn’t inquire what I was worried about since I knew within myself.
I was concerned about the possibility of Namgung Bi-ah leaving.
It stemmed from absurd possessiveness rather than a reasonable attitude.
Did Namgung Bi-ah pick up on that?
“…And…”
As I nibbled on that shame rising to my throat, Namgung Bi-ah added,
“…Seol-Ah… will be back soon.”
“…How do you know that?”
“I know… but why don’t you?”
“What?”
“Why don’t you know when I do?”
She would certainly return.
But why didn’t I know that?
Namgung Bi-ah chastised me lightly, her voice laced with confusion.
It felt akin to her telling me to shake off pointless concerns.
Then, she stepped lightly ahead of me.
“If she doesn’t come, we can just go look for her.”
“…”
“…That’s… what I did.”
She did that to see me.
That’s what Namgung Bi-ah whispered to me.
Even though she made the statement plainly, it quietly filled the emptiness within me.
That’s right; it’s as simple as me looking for her instead.
Such simplicity was beyond me.
All I needed to do was seek her out if I wanted to see her.
What had taken me so long, struggling as if it were difficult to track her down?
It wasn’t that I didn’t know where she went; it’s that I didn’t attempt to find her.
Somewhere in my mind, I felt I needed to hold back.
For some reason, I thought I shouldn’t look for Wi Seol-Ah after she left.
That’s what I told myself all along as I stepped back from the situation.
In moments like this, elder Shin’s advice would have been invaluable, but unfortunately, he was snoozing now of all times.
After hearing Namgung Bi-ah, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Right, all I need to do is find her.”
“…Yeah.”
Such was the plight of someone foolish but overly contemplative.
They forget that there is, in fact, a simple path right in front of them.
Feeling grateful for her words, I unconsciously reached out to pat Namgung Bi-ah’s head, but—
“…I sincerely apologize for interrupting.”
An unsolicited voice cut in.
When I turned to see who it was, I was surprised to find Moyong Hi-ah.
What in the world was she doing here…? Perhaps all my thinking clouded my senses, for I hadn’t even noticed her nearby.
It seems I wasn’t the only one caught off guard.
Moyong Hi-ah’s unexpected arrival startled Namgung Bi-ah as well, leading her to glare at her with narrowed eyes.
“Please don’t look at me that way, Sword Dancer. I contemplated considerably about when to chime in.”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah turned away with a huff that was rarely ever heard from her upon hearing Moyong Hi-ah.
…Why is it that they don’t get along?
For reasons unclear, Namgung Bi-ah, usually friendly with Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-Ah, seemed to be on edge with Moyong Hi-ah.
I took a step towards Namgung Bi-ah to close the distance and asked Moyong Hi-ah,
“What brings you here?”
If she required assistance with the heat, I’d met her a few days ago and had given her some.
I recalled she couldn’t manage a large amount, so we had planned to meet once per week.
“Oh, it’s nothing significant… Nonetheless, it becomes a hassle due to our contract if the Young Master heads to the battlefront.”
“…Right.”
That would indeed make sense.
The Moyong Clan had stated they’d handle this issue on their end, so it wasn’t something I felt forced to concern myself over.
Was that what was troubling her?
“So, I’ve decided to go with you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“To the battlefront. It seems I have no choice but to accompany you.”
With an enchanting smile gracing her lips, Moyong Hi-ah shared her news.
Crack.
“…!”
Zap-!
And upon hearing Moyong Hi-ah’s response, I felt cold sweat drench my skin, spurred by the Lightning Qi emanating from behind.
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