Chapter 111
“I’ll be coming along as well.” (1)
After Gu Yangcheon left the room, silence hung heavily between Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah, who were left inside.
Had Gu Yangcheon still been there, the atmosphere would have been so cold that breathing would have been a chore.
After quietly staring at Tang Soyeol for a moment, Namgung Bi-ah took a seat across from her.
Tang Soyeol naturally fetched a new teacup and poured tea for Namgung Bi-ah.
—Trickle.
Not a single word passed between them.
It felt like an eternity had gone by.
The first to break the silence was Tang Soyeol.
“It’s been a while, sis.”
“…Yeah. A while…”
Even as they spoke, their eyes didn’t meet. Namgung Bi-ah was counting the wooden grains on the table.
Tang Soyeol was watching the tea leaves floating on the surface of her tea.
“I thought we wouldn’t see each other until next year at the earliest, but here we are, huh?”
“…Yeah.”
“Sis.”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you here?”
At Tang Soyeol’s straightforward question, Namgung Bi-ah momentarily lost her words.
What should she say? Could she get away with the usual excuse that she was here because of her fiancé?
Namgung Bi-ah, however, already knew that such words wouldn’t fit in this context.
Since Namgung Bi-ah remained silent, Tang Soyeol took a sip of her tea.
Her throat was getting increasingly dry. Internally, she pondered, ‘This isn’t what I wanted to talk about at all…’
With a sigh at the twisted conversation, Tang Soyeol decided to change the topic.
“I heard that you might be marrying the Young Master of the Gu Clan.”
She emphasized “might.”
A promise was already made between the families, so it was basically a done deal. But Tang Soyeol didn’t want to admit that the engagement was confirmed.
That was just her reluctance showing.
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t respond much to this, merely nodding in reply.
“Did you have a say in this?”
Tang Soyeol asked.
She vividly recalled that moment when she asked Namgung Bi-ah if she liked Gu Yangcheon.
‘She clearly said she didn’t—that it wasn’t love.’
Yet, looking at Namgung Bi-ah now, Tang Soyeol was uncertain if her feelings had changed.
It wasn’t just a vague feeling, either; there was a distinct light shining in Namgung Bi-ah’s previously vacant blue eyes.
Her pale skin, which had always seemed so cold, now bore a hint of blush.
She was like a blooming flower.
What had once been captivating was now dazzlingly beautiful.
‘She’s so beautiful.’ Tang Soyeol thought, feeling slightly overshadowed despite also being a girl.
‘This is honestly too much.’
Secretly, she clenched her fist. Tang Soyeol had confidence in her looks, and anyone would likely agree.
She was indeed pretty and enjoyed taking care of her appearance.
Still, nothing compared to the woman seated in front of her.
Namgung Bi-ah’s beauty had transformed that drastically.
Tang Soyeol wondered if she felt this way due to her friend’s connection to Gu Yangcheon.
‘That can’t be it.’
She spotted a hair accessory in Namgung Bi-ah’s hair.
This girl had previously considered cutting her lovely hair, claiming it hindered her training. She was never one for decoration.
And yet, here she was wearing an accessory.
“Sis…?”
Tang Soyeol called out again. Only then did Namgung Bi-ah shake her head.
It was true that she didn’t have a say in this engagement.
But she still needed to add, “I’m glad it happened, though.”
“…”
Tang Soyeol lowered her head upon hearing this.
That response seemed to encapsulate everything.
‘How did my once dull sis change so much?’
Namgung Bi-ah had always been honest about her feelings.
It might have been subtle, but her eyes now hinted that she was searching for someone.
There was a warmth about her that had never radiated before.
Tang Soyeol realized that these changes arose from Namgung Bi-ah’s feelings for someone.
If Namgung Bi-ah didn’t wish for this marriage, Tang Soyeol was willing to lend her a hand.
She genuinely hoped for it. Needed it.
“Sis, you said you didn’t like Young Master Gu.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you still feel the same…?” Tang Soyeol inquired.
“No.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s answer was different now.
Back then, she had told Tang Soyeol she didn’t like Gu Yangcheon.
But Namgung Bi-ah hesitated before answering if she had feelings for him now.
Was she really in love, or was she just confused?
She simply liked the way he looked at her and the gentle way he stroked her hair when she was falling asleep.
She found kindness in his attempts to care for her, even while he playfully pushed her away.
He often asked if she had eaten and could sense her moods, especially if she seemed off or tired.
If he wasn’t in sight, she would wonder where he went. If he was around, she wanted to be closer to him.
When close, he may act as if he’s pushing her away, but ultimately he always stayed put.
Namgung Bi-ah pondered, was this love? The truth was she still didn’t know.
But she trusted that with time, she’d figure it out.
If she remained by his side, the answer would come to her naturally.
Although she wasn’t aware of many things, she was certain of this.
After hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s resolute answer, Tang Soyeol carefully set down her teacup.
‘Sis is just naïve and doesn’t understand the world yet.’
‘She won’t find happiness in this engagement.’
‘There are plenty of good men in this world. She should reconsider.’
All these thoughts whirled in Tang Soyeol’s mind, but she swallowed them.
They felt foolish and desperate. She didn’t want to go this far.
To her, Namgung Bi-ah was still far more important than Gu Yangcheon. She couldn’t express her thoughts.
It was simply…
‘Why, of all people…’
‘Why did Gu Yangcheon have to be Namgung Bi-ah’s fiancé?’
Tang Soyeol felt a pang of self-pity over being captivated by the young man’s good looks and frustrated by the entire situation.
Maybe she should’ve just begged her father for an engagement with the Gu Clan beforehand?
‘Not that Father would’ve agreed.’
‘He barely let me engage with Namgung Cheonjun without shedding tears of blood.’
Tang Soyeol recalled how she managed to end that engagement through sheer stubbornness and remembered her father smiling when it was successfully canceled.
Finally, she let out a sigh packed with her complicated emotions.
It was merely a crush founded on looks, yet giving it up felt remarkably challenging.
She released the fist she had been clutching tightly.
“Sorry.”
Tang Soyeol’s eyes widened upon hearing the sudden apology.
“Why are you suddenly apologizing?”
“Soyeol, you…”
“No, you don’t need to apologize, sis.”
It had been just a few months for Namgung Bi-ah, but she had learned so much.
Most significantly, she had begun to thoroughly perceive the emotions in others.
Her understanding was still quite low compared to others, but she had made significant strides compared to her past self.
Namgung Bi-ah could read Tang Soyeol’s feelings clearly.
Tang Soyeol forced a smile that conveyed her frustration and disappointment.
“You might not have initiated this engagement, but with how handsome he is, it’s only natural to be drawn to him.”
“Huh?”
Namgung Bi-ah brushed back the hair covering her face, unsure if she had misheard. Especially that part about him being handsome.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
In that moment, she was not in a place to deny or dispute. So she dismissed the notion outright.
“I should be the one apologizing to you…”
Tang Soyeol then tucked the letter she had shown to Gu Yangcheon back into her skirt.
“I apologize, but I won’t withdraw my invitation to Young Master Gu.”
To attend the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes—she had no idea how Gu Yangcheon would react, but Tang Soyeol was resolved to stand her ground.
She wasn’t aiming to take Gu Yangcheon from Namgung Bi-ah.
She just couldn’t bring herself to let go of him, even after seeing Namgung Bi-ah’s changes. She wanted to remain in his presence, even if just a little longer.
‘I’m done for.’ Tang Soyeol thought.
‘They always warned about handsome men and their terrible personalities.’
‘If I stay by his side for a while, maybe I’ll eventually tire of his jerk ways?’
Though she thought that, she knew she could never tire of his face, even until the end.
“Young Master Gu may refuse my invitation, but if he does go to the tournament…”
“It’s fine.”
“Huh?”
Tang Soyeol was taken aback by Namgung Bi-ah’s cavalier response.
Namgung Bi-ah’s expression was calm, as if asking what that even meant.
Usually, a girl would dislike or feel anxious about that situation, and yet, Namgung Bi-ah spoke as if it were a matter of course.
“Because… I’ll be coming along as well.”
“S-Sis?”
Namgung Bi-ah had never once attended the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes.
She seldom left her clan and was practically an accidental friend of Tang Soyeol.
Besides, Namgung Bi-ah likely disliked places with crowds or people wanting to bother her.
“Sis, at the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes…”
It was a gathering where the young prodigies of the world would converge.
A contest for the most talented youths, both male and female, to determine the stars of this generation.
Tang Soyeol received unfathomable attention every time she attended, so she wondered what would happen if Namgung Bi-ah joined in as well.
It stunned her that Namgung Bi-ah would choose to attend, given how much she disliked being in the spotlight.
“It’s fine.”
Namgung Bi-ah appeared completely unfazed. Noticing Tang Soyeol’s surprise, she continued.
“Because he’s going.”
Gu Yangcheon was attending, so she’d be there too.
That flimsy reason was enough for her.
After a few awkward exchanges filled with tension, their conversation came to a close.
Both girls harbored much they wanted to share but held their tongues.
Once Namgung Bi-ah stepped outside, Gu Yangcheon stood waiting. A hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes.
His sharp gaze scanning the atmosphere was almost comical.
Namgung Bi-ah suddenly recalled Tang Soyeol’s comment.
‘She said he’s… handsome.’
She questioned if perhaps her eyes were deceiving her. Namgung Bi-ah found it hard to relate to Tang Soyeol’s earlier words.
Seconds later, Gu Yangcheon realized Namgung Bi-ah was observing him intently.
He frowned, clearly curious about what had transpired between the girls.
Namgung Bi-ah couldn’t help but chuckle at his strange expression.
“Huh? Why are you laughing at someone’s face?”
“It’s nothing.”
She quickly masked her laughter. That was something Namgung Bi-ah excelled at.
“What about Lady Tang?”
“She said… she’d come to you later to talk.”
“Should I just leave now?”
“Yeah.”
In truth, Tang Soyeol hadn’t said that, but Namgung Bi-ah spoke in that manner as she noticed Gu Yangcheon moving to head back inside.
She pondered internally, ‘Why did I lie?’
She just didn’t want Gu Yangcheon to retreat to that room right now.
His puzzled face showed he didn’t understand, but Namgung Bi-ah tugged at his sleeve.
“I’m hungry…”
“What? You just had dumplings!”
“…”
Gu Yangcheon paused, pondering whether she truly was hungry, but ultimately believed her.
Although he might lack some aspects, Gu Yangcheon was always thoughtful about food.
Other things suck too, but being hungry is the worst.
Namgung Bi-ah found it strange that someone like Gu Yangcheon would complain about food.
She watched Gu Yangcheon as he walked on, smiling to herself, then quickly closed the distance beside him.
“What should we eat? What do you feel like?”
“Anything…?”
“Do you know that’s the most annoying answer?”
The two strolled side by side, exchanging light banter. Such trivial exchanges meant the world to Namgung Bi-ah.
*
Inside the Gu Clan Leader’s chamber, Gu Cheolun was facing the Plum Blossom Sword.
“You must be tired today. I told you that you could rest, so why have you come?”
The Sword Master expressed that she’d stay in close quarters with Gu Ryunghwa.
Knowing their ties, Gu Cheolun agreed without hesitation.
“There are too many things I want to ask. It’s hard to just unwind.”
“Too many questions, you say… to me?”
“Yes.”
Gu Cheolun scrutinized the Sword Master with a keen eye. She seemed different from a few years back.
‘It appears she’s recovered.’
He had perceived the gradual decline of the Sword Master back then.
Noticing her change, he said, “I’m glad that you’re well…”
“Captain.”
The Sword Master interrupted him, causing Gu Cheolun to frown.
That was a term he hadn’t heard in decades. With a growl, he replied, “Sword Master, what is happening here?”
“I have something to ask of you, Captain.”
“Please, call me by my rightful title. Why do you linger in the past?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“What’s past is past and should be forgotten.”
The Sword Master chuckled softly at his serious tone.
“To me, it appears you have not forgotten anything, Captain. You being here in Gu Clan only proves it.”
“…”
The Sword Master recognized the Sword Emperor at once. He likely knew too.
However, both understood the subtlety of unspoken words. This was a minimum courtesy.
The Sword Master then addressed Gu Cheolun.
“You instructed me not to inquire about Cheonhee when you entrusted me with Gu Ryunghwa, and I fully intend to uphold that promise.”
“Then what is this…?”
“So let’s talk about the Abyss?”
“Sword Master!”
A mere question drew Gu Cheolun’s roar. The Sword Master stood unmoved.
“Years have gone by, yet I remember everything.”
Gu Cheolun’s vehement outburst only steeled her resolve.
“I came to ask you something, Captain.”
The sword master met Gu Cheolun’s fierce eyes as she asked,
“Captain, what exactly did you experience in the Abyss?”
Upon hearing that question, flames erupted from Gu Cheolun’s body.
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