Chapter: 812
After finishing the conversation with Mukyeon, I selected the participants for the expedition and headed straight to Elder Lee.
I explained the situation to Elder Lee for future plans.
“So, you’re saying you’re going to Sacheon?”
I nodded in response.
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
“You’re certainly moving around busily.”
“It just happened that way…”
Elder Lee chuckled at the thought that instead of returning to Shanxi, I was heading to Sacheon first.
I had been out and about more than I had been at home, so it was understandable he found it odd.
“If that’s what you want to do, I won’t stop you… but are you sure about this?”
“…Hmm.”
I scratched my cheek slightly at the elder’s words, which were really asking, “Are you okay?”
“Just know that the other elders might be a pain.”
It’s almost time for me to take the seat at the head of the table during the Lord’s Supper. Naturally, if I suddenly say I’m going to make a grand toast and wander off, there could be backlash.
“Well, it should be manageable, somehow.”
It didn’t matter to me much.
The elders could raise a fuss, but it wouldn’t cause a significant disturbance.
There was one issue, though.
“But, what do you think, Elder? Would it be better to just go to Shanxi?”
The opinion of Elder Lee seemed somewhat important.
Feeling a little anxious, I asked, and the elder replied,
“What difference does it make to ask after everything is done anyway?”
“…”
That was indeed a significant point.
“If you want to do it, then go for it. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to deal with it.”
He indirectly suggested it might not be the best idea.
I was aware this wasn’t likely the “best” course of action.
So, when I made a slightly hesitant expression, Elder Lee let out a sigh.
“What’s with that face? You’re not hoping I’d take care of it for you, are you?”
“That’s not it! And even if I asked you to handle it, you wouldn’t do it anyway, right?”
“Of course not. Why would this old man do that?”
That was true, too.
If one acts, one bears the consequences. It was no different this time.
Whether it’s the elders opposing it or the timing being inappropriate,
I would be the one to shoulder the repercussions in the end.
‘So, it would be hard to drag it out any longer.’
There were too many things to consider and not enough time.
That was why I had to work even harder.
At that moment,
“All good! Whatever you plan to do, just put your heart into it! But you know…”
“Yes?”
“You should still be cautious about a few things.”
As Elder Lee spoke, he pointed somewhere.
Following his finger, I caught sight of something.
“…”
Someone was glaring this way with an intense frown, as if they were furious.
It was none other than the fourth of the Gu clan, Gu Ryeong-hwa.
“I heard that since you arrived here, you haven’t shown your face even once. Is that true?”
“Well, I’ve been a bit busy…”
I was aware that Gu Ryeong-hwa had arrived with the Hwasan Sect.
I knew about it, but I just didn’t feel the need to go see her.
My schedule had been packed, and, above all,
‘I forgot.’
… Yes, I completely forgot.
The day Yeongpung mentioned Gu Ryeong-hwa,
I did say I would pay her a visit then…
‘…but then I think I never actually went?’
I probably didn’t go after all.
So, that must be why her expression was like that. She had a really sulky look on her face.
But it felt like the fault was mine, making it hard to look her in the eye.
I could only sneak a few glances here and there.
The last time I saw Gu Ryeong-hwa, she looked much more grown up than before. She didn’t appear particularly taller… but her overall vibe felt different.
‘Hmm.’
Did she perhaps find a boyfriend?
I clenched my fist without realizing it.
‘What kind of brat is he?’
I suddenly felt a twinge of curiosity regarding who he was.
Ah, I’m just curious, that’s all—no plans to act on it.
‘Didn’t I see some odd-looking guy when I visited the Hwasan Sect last time…?’
Could it be him? He was likely one of the three great disciples…
‘Yeah, a little romance isn’t so bad, right?’
Knowing won’t change anything, but my curiosity was piqued.
Since it’s a love affair of blood, it’s only natural to be curious, right?
It’s not like I’d actually do anything just because I know…
‘I don’t need to do anything.’
Accidents can happen out of the blue.
Yup, that makes sense.
‘So, let’s just get to know the name.’
“… Cheon-ah.”
‘Doho could probably find out if he asked Yeongpung, and after that, I’ll tell Nahi to find out about the person—’
“Yangcheon-ah.”
“Yes?”
I snapped back to my senses at the call.
“What’s up with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You look like you’re going to charge at someone right now. It’s scary, so cover your face! With that expression, you look more like a ghost…”
“…”
I almost spat blood upon hearing that.
What’s with this old man, who once called me his grandson, saying such traumatizing words?
“…I was just spacing out for a bit.”
“If you keep spacing out like that, one person will end up dead.”
“…”
After enduring his ongoing jabs, I finally stood up.
If I listened any longer, I felt like I’d blow a fuse.
As I rose, I noticed a reaction in front of me.
It was from Gu Ryeong-hwa.
She seemed startled, as if I was about to approach her.
‘Hmm.’
It’s true I originally rose with the intention of going.
It would be odd not to go after reaching this point.
“Hey.”
shudder
At my call, Gu Ryeong-hwa jumped as if shocked.
Yet her expression remained unchanged.
“Hey.”
When I called again, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her previously shut mouth opened up.
“…what?”
At least she responded. That was a relief.
Her voice sounded quite gruff, clearly reluctant to reply.
“Are you mad?”
“I’m not.”
“Really? Looking at those cheeks, it seems like you’re all fired up.”
“…!”
Upon hearing my comment, Gu Ryeong-hwa quickly rubbed her cheek.
And then she started rolling her eyes frantically. She realized she was puffy even from her own glance.
“This, this is just swelling!”
“Swelling? Why? Did someone hit you?”
What kind of brat did it?
I’d yank their joints out and turn them into fermented seafood.
“…Who said I got hit? That’s not it…”
“Then what is it?”
I spoke bluntly and sat down next to her.
As soon as I settled, Gu Ryeong-hwa opened a slight gap between us.
“What’s up?”
“What? I just sat next to you.”
“Why are you sitting? Move away.”
“I’m sitting where I want, who are you to tell me?”
“This seat belongs to me.”
“Why is this your seat? If we’re talking technically, it belongs to Mrs. Mi!”
“…”
Gu Ryeong-hwa tightly shut her lips.
In fact, the place where the Gu clan was currently staying was Mrs. Mi’s territory.
Furthermore,
“But aren’t you part of the Hwasan Sect? If we nitpick, it’s more my seat…”
“Get lost.”
“Just joking, just joking.”
As she looked prepared to get up after my teasing, I grabbed Gu Ryeong-hwa and pulled her back down.
“I was just trying to lighten the mood!”
“You lighten the mood this way…?”
“Why? Aren’t I doing fine?”
“…I feel bad for your sisters.”
“…”
What does that even mean…? My heart felt like it was getting scratched.
Anyway, somehow I managed to get Gu Ryeong-hwa to stay down, and we sat quietly side by side for a while.
A brief moment passed.
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
I was the one to awkwardly apologize first.
She looked at me as if waiting for something.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“For saying I’d come to see you but didn’t show up?”
“…Ugh. I really don’t care about that.”
You don’t care? Her face was giving away her feelings, exuding joy from my apology.
I couldn’t help but wonder whom she got her inability to lie from.
“Well… I was just busy, so it wasn’t that I didn’t want to see you.”
I swiftly added an excuse to go with the mood.
“I know.”
“Huh?”
In response, Gu Ryeong-hwa said,
“I know. You’re busy.”
“…How do you know?”
“Right now, there’s probably no one in Hanam who doesn’t know you’re swamped. I keep hearing people saying they’ve spotted you here and there. Just how much are you wandering around?”
“…”
Was it really that noticeable? I didn’t feel like I was going around so much, but now there seemed to be sightings popping up.
‘I guess I need to be more cautious.’
I should probably be more careful. I realized there were more eyes watching than I thought.
“So… are you feeling alright?”
Gu Ryeong-hwa asked.
“Huh? My body?”
I was a bit puzzled by the sudden question.
“…I heard you were hurt. Are you okay?”
“Ah.”
It seemed she was referring back to when I faced that 100-level monster.
“You can tell by looking at me that I’m fine.”
“….”
I answered her, but Gu Ryeong-hwa still looked at me with dubious eyes.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Is it really fine?”
“I told you it’s fine! Look, if I was in pain, I couldn’t possibly be roaming around like this…”
“But why didn’t you come by to say hi?”
“…Well, you know… I’m still a little sore.”
“….”
“….”
I averted my gaze.
I felt like I was walking into a trap.
This girl has gotten a lot sharper since we last met.
As I struggled to answer, Gu Ryeong-hwa sighed and spoke up.
“Okay… It’s not like I wanted to see you that badly, oppa. I just asked. I wasn’t that eager to see you either.”
Well, since when were we ever close?
I nodded, understanding that part.
“That being said, they said that when Yangcheon got injured, you came running over immediately.”
“Now, Elder! What do you mean by that?”
From behind, Elder Lee snickered and added his commentary, prompting Gu Ryeong-hwa to shout back with a red face.
“When did I come? I didn’t do that!”
“Really? Considering that, what the servants have been saying….”
“Elder…!!”
“Uh-huh. Looks like I must have misheard.”
“…”
In the end, Elder Lee switched the subject, unable to withstand Gu Ryeong-hwa’s outbursts.
But the moment had already passed.
‘…When did she come in the first place?’
That’s not something I had ever heard before. As I absorbed the words, I glanced over at Gu Ryeong-hwa.
She quickly turned her eyes away, blushing furiously.
‘Hmm.’
It seems like it could be true.
Perhaps that’s why I felt a twinge of guilt inside.
It was obvious why I hadn’t seen her even though she mentioned showing up.
‘It’s probably because I was out of it. And when she came over, maybe she didn’t get let in.’
During that period of rest, it was Mo Yong-hee who tended to me, so she likely wouldn’t have known.
But not passing on any word…
‘Could it have been Gu Ryeong-hwa’s choice?’
That seems like a reasonable conclusion.
“If you were here, you should have come to see me!”
“…I told you, I didn’t go looking.”
Judging by her denial, it looked like she would continue to reject it until the end. So, I didn’t pry further into it.
What could I even ask when I hadn’t ventured out myself?
“Yeah, you didn’t come look for me.”
“You’re not believing me, are you?”
“I believe you.”
“Fine….”
And then, silence fell over us.
It was a comfortable quietness we had grown used to.
A relationship so familiar with silence that talking felt strange.
We couldn’t return to the days gone by, but just refraining from uttering words soaked in resentment was a significant shift.
Taking a deep breath while pondering,
“You know…”
Suddenly, Gu Ryeong-hwa spoke to me again.
“I think I’m going to head back to Shanxi.”
“What?”
I widened my eyes.
Head back to Shanxi?
“I won’t be going back completely. I’m thinking of spending the rest of my time in Shanxi… Well, Madam Mi also hoped for this, and even Elder Jang Moon-in approved.”
Oh, so she didn’t mean completely returning.
It sounded like she was planning for just a brief respite this year.
But one thing took me by surprise during all this.
“Madam Mi wanted that?”
“Yeah?”
It was a reference to Madam Mi.
“You… you talk to Madam Mi?”
“Yeah? Well, sometimes?”
That took me aback.
I thought Gu Ryeong-hwa never spoke to Madam Mi. So, it turns out she occasionally communicated with her.
As I stood surprised at that development, Gu Ryeong-hwa looked at me strangely.
“Why are you that surprised…?”
“No, it’s just a bit interesting. I thought you’d hate her….”
I swallowed my words before finishing.
Having left home because of her disdain,
If she found freedom in leaving, then that was acceptable to me.
That was my thinking up until now.
As I gazed at her with curiosity, Gu Ryeong-hwa gazed back with slightly relaxed eyes.
“I don’t hate her.”
“…”
Even though I hadn’t voiced my thoughts, Gu Ryeong-hwa understood where I was coming from.
“…It’s not like she’s ever done anything to us. It’s just a bit awkward and distant, isn’t it? Isn’t it the same for you, oppa?”
“…”
“And if we were to hate her for anything, it should probably be the other way around. Yet…”
Gu Ryeong-hwa hesitated before adding,
“She doesn’t hate us. So we shouldn’t hate her either…?”
I couldn’t help but swallow my saliva at her flowing words.
There’s a next episode—!
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