## Chapter: 135
Plant Your Head On The Ground (2)
After finishing her meal and returning, the servant asked Moyong Hi-ah, “How did it go?”
Her lady, who had earlier insisted that she would go as planned, returned, but judging by her expression, it seemed that things hadn’t gone too well.
“It seems today wasn’t the right day.”
Just as predicted.
“There was a disrupter as well.”
“A disrupter?”
“Yeah. There was one dense guy who had no clue what was happening.”
Moyong Hi-ah recalled Gu Jeolyub. He had a decent face, and from his gestures, it seemed he had some skill.
It was just that the timing was not favorable.
“Fortunately, it seems like things will happen a day later than I expected.”
Based on her information, she had thought it would definitely be today. So, had something happened? The person still hadn’t arrived at the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.
“Are you going to try again tomorrow?”
“I’ve already paid for it, so I might as well make use of it.”
The acting skills of Hwangbo Cheolwi exceeded Moyong Hi-ah’s expectations, which was a great help. Though, Tang Soyeol’s interference was something she hadn’t accounted for.
‘Why is that kid here already?’
The Poison Bee, Tang Soyeol. She was infamous for her innocent face and a personality that starkly contradicted it.
Exaggerating a bit, one could say she had been putting pressure on Hwangbo Cheolwi, who appeared to be about twice her size.
It was a stark contrast from when they had met previously; she seemed to have grown.
Because of that, Hwangbo Cheolwi was having a hard time calming his racing heart.
And most importantly, ‘Namgung…’
Amidst those who appeared to be Tang Soyeol’s crew, there was a woman donned in the Namgung Clan’s attire.
The peculiar aura given off by her white-bluish hair and hazy blue eyes was striking.
‘Was there someone like her in the Namgung Clan?’
If she were a blood relative of the Namgung Clan, the only person that came to mind was their son’s older sister.
It was said that she rarely left the clan, leading to a lack of information about her.
‘So why is a person like that here?’
According to Moyong Hi-ah’s predictions, the Namgung Clan should arrive tomorrow.
If she indeed was a blood relative, then something felt off about that group.
‘I did hear rumors about them planning an engagement…’
Could it be that this group was associated with the clan the Namgung Clan intended to engage with? The Gu Clan of Shanxi, where the Tiger Warrior was the head?
She recalled hearing that they had agreed to an engagement with the Tiger Warrior’s son.
‘Then who could it be among them?’
Feeling the cold wind seeping through the window, Moyong Hi-ah entered a realm of contemplation.
She thought of the boy who tried to save her from Hwangbo Cheolwi, who seemed oblivious to the situation.
Quietly, unhurriedly— the only presence that remained calm amidst the chaos.
Moyong Hi-ah was exceptionally perceptive, far more than others.
Having gathered such experiences since childhood, she was confident in her ability to sense things.
That intuition was urging her to keep an eye on that boy.
The boy was attempting to eat the meal set before him, putting on an act as if he were not paying attention.
Yet, his second gaze was fixated on every move Hwangbo Cheolwi made.
He seemed poised to intervene should any problem arise.
The fact that he wasn’t channeling any Qi suggested one of two possibilities.
Either he was deliberately avoiding drawing attention to himself, or he simply didn’t need to.
‘…That can’t be right.’
Even if Hwangbo Cheolwi wasn’t outstanding enough to be called a Dragon or a Phoenix, he was still part of a prominent clan.
Even she, recognized as the Snow Phoenix, couldn’t confront Hwangbo Cheolwi without using Qi.
Let alone the fact that he couldn’t just leap into action from that distance.
“Mistress?”
“Sorry, I just got lost in thought for a moment.”
Perhaps due to the unexpected circumstances that had arisen, Moyong Hi-ah felt overwhelmed. The servant immediately offered to bring her some tea upon her words.
Left alone, Moyong Hi-ah whispered softly to the wind, “I hope tomorrow flows as expected.”
A situation where things didn’t follow her expectations was something she hated the most.
*
Around three years had passed in the Abyss.
Half of the individuals who had been transferred had died, and now fatigue enveloped everyone.
Watching the violet moon, the crimson sky, and consuming the flesh of demons—it was becoming exhausting.
And the hope of continuing to survive was extinguishing more and more.
—What did you just say?
A sharp energy surged through the cave. Wi Seol-Ah didn’t draw her sword, but the Qi she exuded felt no different.
—I suppose you didn’t understand what I meant?
Despite the threatening atmosphere, Moyong Hi-ah’s expression didn’t budge.
Instead, her expression grew even more resolute.
—Are you telling me I must comprehend that damned idiot?
It was rare for Wi Seol-Ah to raise her voice.
And it was even rarer for her to respond so heatedly.
—How could I understand forsaking a comrade?
—If you can’t comprehend that, then what’s your course of action?
—Snow Phoenix!
Even in response to Wi Seol-Ah’s outburst, Moyong Hi-ah’s gaze remained as frosty as ever.
—Young Sword Master, I recognize that you value cooperation and respect, but are you truly willing to risk the lives of everyone for one?
—Even if you draw such conclusions…
—What I mean is…
With an abrupt movement, Moyong Hi-ah struck the fan she had been holding down onto the floor. It had become tattered and frayed after long and brutal years.
—Such options exist only when viable solutions are at hand. Young Sword Master, you cannot shoulder everything by yourself.
—Then I would rather…
—Do you honestly believe we can withstand everything if we lose you?
—…Snow Phoenix.
Everyone present fell silent, unable to voice their thoughts. While she understood Wi Seol-Ah’s feelings, it was undeniable that Moyong Hi-ah was not wrong.
That was always the case. She never spoke words that were incorrect.
And the same held true now.
—The same applies to the Water Dragon outside and everyone else too.
—So you’re telling me to abandon Young Master Gu?
—Yes.
Crack.
At Moyong Hi-ah’s resolute declaration, Wi Seol-Ah gritted her teeth. The sound suggested she might break them.
Moyong Hi-ah then shifted her gaze towards me.
—Young Master Gu.
—What?
I responded lazily while focusing on her.
Because I understood better than anyone that this was the most appropriate decision.
—I’ll hear your complaints later.
—When? After you’re dead?
—Yes.
—You crazy woman, what a decisive attitude you have.
I laughed, unable to hold back from finding amusement in her absurdity. Wi Seol-Ah interjected again.
—I… can’t go through with this after all. I will—
—I’ll do it.
—…!
Wi Seol-Ah’s expression soured upon hearing my words.
—I’ll just get it over with.
—What nonsense are you saying…! If you go there—
—I’ll die.
Wi Seol-ah closed her lips after hearing my reply.
Little did anyone know about the countless demons swarming outside. They were all painfully aware of how perilous the current state was.
Their numbers were beyond measure.
In such circumstances, the Water Dragon and others were barely hanging on.
This also held true for Wi Seol-Ah. She had just battled moments before but now needed time to recover her Qi.
—But is that crazy woman wrong?
—Young Master Gu…
—Don’t let your emotions consume you, especially in a moment like this. If you’re going to resent, aim it at everyone else rather than that woman.
Since I, too, was blaming myself for my own frailty.
Wi Seol-Ah would appear drained whenever she suffered a loss.
But what could we do about it?
—If I don’t step up, everyone will die.
—I could play that role as well.
—Yes, it’s not merely me who could fulfill that role. Others can too.
Yet I mattered the least. If Wi Seol-Ah, our strongest, fell, then all glimmer of hope would vanish for all of us.
In situations like these, even losing a single person was an untenable luxury.
—We missed our chance to escape this hell together a long time ago.
—…
—What? You think I want to die? It’s just that I have no choice; if I don’t, everyone will perish.
Could they truly survive if I willingly became bait for the demons? I couldn’t be certain.
But I still had to try.
I sensed Wi Seol-ah’s gaze on me, but I turned my head away. The people who had remained silent in the background avoided direct eye contact.
I didn’t care whether it was induced by guilt or by relief.
—Three years, huh? I’ve held on long enough.
Even undeservedly so.
In situations where I should have already been dead, I clung to life.
The guilt that stemmed from prioritizing my survival over others added a heavy weight on my heart.
Now I felt like I could finally relieve myself.
—You.
—Yes.
Moyong Hi-ah’s stare bore into me firmly.
—…
—Don’t you have anything to say?
—Nope, not a thing.
This wasn’t the moment for me to say anything.
If someone asked if I blamed Moyong Hi-ah, I’d be lying if I said no. Yet, I still had empathy for her.
People really do change significantly. Considering that even I could come to understand that woman now.
—I’m leaving.
Wi Seol-Ah reached out to me upon hearing my words, but ultimately, she couldn’t catch me. Too late, indeed.
Moyong Hi-ah didn’t offer any parting words.
That was simply how she was. A person who would cut ties or accept others without hesitation if it served her purpose.
Yet even so, no one truly hated her. The reason was clear.
It was because she always incorporated herself into such actions.
Even during times like this, if the person who mattered the least had been herself and not me, she would have stepped up without second thoughts.
But nothing of the sort would occur.
Whether it was the Snow Phoenix, Water Dragon, or Wi Seol-Ah…
If even a single one of them faltered, it would be the end for everyone.
Suddenly, I had the urge to ask Moyong Hi-ah something before leaving.
—When you return, will you be doing those meaningless actions again?
—Why are you suddenly asking me such a strange question? What do you mean, meaningless?
—Just answer me.
—I will indeed.
—I’m impressed. Do you understand how pointless that is?
—It’s simply necessary for me.
—You crazy woman…
I chuckled.
That marked the end of our conversation. We had no more words left to share.
I walked past Wi Seol-Ah, who lay defeated on the ground after I chose to be the sacrifice.
The next time I encountered that group was five years later in the Abyss.
Much had changed in that time. I had survived, and so had they…
When we met again, it wasn’t a glorious reunion filled with tears.
I was bound to kill them all.
Late at night, with the moon framed perfectly in the sky,
The room assigned to me felt more spacious than necessary for a single inhabitant.
“Adjust your posture.”
At my command, Gu Jeolyub hastily corrected his posture. I had noted that he wobbled, possibly succumbing to fatigue.
“I noticed you were trying to channel your Qi. Do you want to die?”
“No, I didn’t…!”
I could tell that he was stealthily flowing his Qi around.
Gu Jeolyub, enduring punishment, was whimpering on the ground with his head planted.
At first, he wore an expression of dissatisfaction, wondering what he’d done wrong, so I made sure to rectify that.
‘Of course he could feel wronged.’
I certainly didn’t think he had ventured forth with malicious intent.
Helping others? A fine ambition.
Kids his age often acted impulsively without considering the consequences.
Such impulses could grant them various opportunities in the future.
‘But that’s if they have the talent to back it up.’
Objectively speaking, Gu Jeolyub was undoubtedly talented compared to his peers. He possessed a gift that could easily earn him the title of genius.
However, the world was vast and full of other budding prodigies.
At present, Gu Jeolyub couldn’t even hold a candle to Namgung Bi-ah, let alone the likes of Tang Soyeol.
“Why do you think you’re capable of helping others when you can’t even help yourself?”
“…I heard that even those without power shouldn’t hesitate to aid the weak.”
“That’s a nice maxim. But if that’s the case, how did you break my arm?”
“…Uh.”
“Right, I must have done something wrong then.”
“Yeah…”
“Yeah? Yeeaahhh?”
“N-No, sir.”
It was indeed a valiant statement. I couldn’t claim it was utterly incorrect.
After all, the continued existence of this generation and the defeat of the Heavenly Demon stemmed from such ideals.
Though it wasn’t something I could personally do; I was too engrossed in surviving.
“If you aim to protect the weak, why engage in futile endeavors?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
Moyong Hi-ah was certainly not weak; even though it appeared that Gu Jeolyub had yet to grasp that fact.
“Why was a thoughtless person like you trying to step into a situation beyond your capacity?”
“…”
For some reason, a brief silence lingered in the air, and I turned to see Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah eyeing me oddly.
“What? Why?”
“Nothing…”
“Yeah…”
What were those strange reactions…? I returned to look at Gu Jeolyub once more.
“Earlier, did you genuinely believe you would win?”
“…”
“Judging by your reaction, it seemed so.”
Gu Jeolyub flinched. Indeed, it appeared as though he had charged in believing he could win.
“…Was I mistaken?”
“No, you would’ve won.”
He probably would have. Hwangbo Cheolwi didn’t appear extraordinarily strong.
Yet even with that, he wouldn’t have secured an easy victory.
Being eager was commendable, yet having foresight mattered more.
“Then…!”
“You should only act when you’re confident you can manage the aftermath.”
The turmoil that would have ensued from his actions and the shambles it would cause among us. The risk of our clan crossing paths with the Hwangbo Clan, leading to disruptions in the tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes, among others.
“Could you handle all that by yourself?”
“…”
“Know your limits. If you can’t manage the mess you create, then address your energy elsewhere and get lost if that bothers you.”
It was a noble perspective if someone aspired to become a hero, but that notion held no weight without requisite ability to support it.
This may sound harsh and selfish, but there were too many who harmed themselves and their surroundings due to unchecked enthusiasm.
This miserable world was not devoid of such individuals, and I was aware that the tales of heroes often didn’t end happily.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll be more attentive.”
Gu Jeolyub staggered to his feet.
His expression remained lackluster; he still seemed perplexed.
In reality, I hadn’t intended to impart this lesson to ensure he’d understand.
Gu Jeolyub likely possessed a better mindset than I did.
Truth be told, the only reason I had reprimanded Gu Jeolyub was that he almost tangled me up with Moyong Hi-ah.
‘What was she scheming?’
It wasn’t as if Moyong Hi-ah had a meek disposition; thus, it was odd to see her not retaliate or respond in any way to her mistreatment.
Laziness might have driven her choice, but such a method was more aligned with my character.
[Sure, you would remain still, wouldn’t you? If you didn’t break something, it’d be a miracle.]
…For someone like Moyong Hi-ah, regardless of my knowledge, I truly didn’t think she would act in such a manner.
She was a woman who used every means necessary to get what she sought, so it made me wonder if she had a plan this time as well.
‘For what?’
What did she desire in such a place?
The memories of those sky-blue eyes shining in the darkness lingered in my mind.
Recalling that made me feel inexplicably melancholic, so I took a sip of my tea.
Meanwhile, I stole a glance at Namgung Bi-ah.
I remembered how Moyong Hi-ah had flinched earlier at the sight of Namgung Bi-ah.
‘If that’s the case, then she undoubtedly has a purpose.’
Moyong Hi-ah’s purpose. And the connection she shared with Namgung Bi-ah.
Given the notoriety from my previous life, it wouldn’t be surprising if it mirrored this timeline.
Moyong Hi-ah pursued a particular man. I just didn’t have a clue why.
After all, I never learned whether it was due to love or another motive.
Time passed, but Moyong Hi-ah’s objective had remained steadfast.
Even during nights spent in my company.
‘Such pointless affairs.’
They say one never forgets their first love, yet I began to question the importance of such a notion, considering how scant my memories were of her.
Although a significant factor in that absence was probably the lack of genuine feelings between us.
‘Anyway, as long as I can avoid entanglement with her from here on out…’
That should suffice.
Or so I thought.
“Hello. My name is Moyong Hi-ah.”
Yet, upon seeing a smiling Moyong Hi-ah first thing in the morning…
I realized I was already too late.
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