“What’s going on?”
As Murong Sang-a turned her head, she saw an old man awkwardly speaking to her from under the shadow of the eaves, hiding his body. She quickly recalled information about him in her mind.
He belongs to the Elders’ Council. His position in the council is minor, and he doesn’t have much presence. He’s the type to refuse bribes, but he won’t say no if treated by others from the council.
How did he know she was alone in the Head Family’s Hall, troubled in her heart?
With a glimmer of hope, Murong Sang-a expanded her senses. Fortunately, there were no martial artists nearby preparing for an attack.
“Don’t worry; no one’s going to unleash madness in front of the Head Family’s Hall.”
The old man reassured Murong Sang-a and stepped out of the shadows.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“I had something to say and something to deliver, so I waited.”
“Go ahead.”
What on earth could it be that made him wait here? Murong Sang-a asked the old man, not hiding her wariness.
“Be careful of assassins.”
“What do you mean by that?”
His words surprised even her, who was already full of caution.
“I heard this while coming and going, so don’t just brush it off.”
“What did you hear about the Deputy Head of Family?”
The old man shook his head and looked up at the sky before speaking.
“This conflict is ultimately a fight over how much justification can be accrued before the Head of Family returns. The advantage always lies with the title of Deputy Head of Family, and that’s a justification that cannot be taken from Murong Bi unless the Head of Family rises.”
“I know. That’s why I said I would look for the Sacred Martial Library.”
“Right. If you can enter the Sacred Martial Library and obtain its contents, no one will deny your legitimacy. But because of that, someone may prepare a final move.”
“…Assassination?”
Murong Sang-a understood why the old man mentioned assassination.
“I know both sides won’t make foolish choices. An organization that loses its head does not collapse; it rampages unrestrained. So why would they do something like that? Yet, the people beneath them are prone to anxiety over even the slightest uncertainties.”
The issues within the Murong Family can’t be solved by simply killing the leaders.
They should oppose each other in both light and darkness, cutting down forces and justifications, forcing the other side to retreat. Only then can the Murong Family be preserved in its entirety.
Someone might prepare some other safeguard before that. And preparations have already begun.
That was what the old man came to inform her about.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
“Ahem. While other old men just want to fatten their own pockets, I hope the Murong Family regains the reputation it once held as the number one family in the world. I see this as an inevitable pain in that process. So take this.”
The old man seemed embarrassed when receiving thanks from Murong Sang-a and pulled out several books from his clothing.
“What is this?”
“This is a diary of explorations in the Sacred Martial Library. When I was young, I explored the Sacred Martial Library.”
“Such an important thing for me…”
“Think of it as an old man’s lingering attachment to his dreams. Though I’m part of the Elders’ Council, I hold a minor position. I have no influence, but I will cheer for you. I shall take my leave now.”
After bowing in thanks to the old man’s encouragement, Murong Sang-a headed towards Changbong Hall.
————————-
The uncommonly cold winter passed, and time flowed after the new year.
In the chilly weather, warm winds would occasionally blow, melting the ice, and preparing for the new spring to bud.
Before she knew it, the spring day came when her first love had begun and her last love had ended.
“Please do my makeup beautifully.”
With a serious expression, Murong Sang-a sat at the dressing table and ordered Shibi.
“Yes. I will make you beautiful enough for anyone to look back at.”
Shibi, tying up her loose orange hair, looked at the lady of Changbong Hall with a cheerful face.
She was one of the few who had served Murong Sang-a since her childhood. Even when the Spear Peak Band was disbanded and Murong Sang-a faced her greatest crisis, Shibi never left her side.
The owner didn’t usually care much about her appearance. Just a little makeup would suffice for her, and she would look beautiful, akin to embroidery on silk or fine craftsmanship.
But today was different. Today was a day she wanted to appear more beautiful than anyone else.
That’s right. Today was.
“Are all the food preparations for the memorial ready?”
It was the day to offer sacrifices for Kang Yoon-ho.
“Yes. I’ve invited skilled innkeepers to prepare delicacies from both the Central Plains and Joseon.”
“What about finding out what dishes he liked?”
“The Great Lord of Spear Peak said he asked the members of the Kang family, but they were distant relatives and only women who weren’t active outside, so he couldn’t find out.”
“…Is that so?”
A hint of bitterness seeped into Murong Sang-a’s voice.
“I’ve prepared all sorts of delicacies! I’m sure some of them are dishes that Master Kang liked!”
Shibi, striving to lift Murong Sang-a’s spirits, cheerfully encouraged her.
“That’s right…”
Murong Sang-a nodded slightly to the maid’s words and adorned herself with the clean garments and elegant accessories that Shibi handed over.
“Give me the hairpin; I will shape your hair.”
“I’ll do the hairpin, so you arrange my hair.”
Determined not to let anyone else touch it, Murong Sang-a refused and took out a precious hairpin she had carefully kept in a drawer.
No one aside from her was allowed to touch this hairpin.
Two years ago, it was the hairpin her beloved had inserted for her.
Unlike two years ago, Murong Sang-a skillfully pinned the hairpin in her hair.
“When you’re ready, tell everyone to leave.”
After Shibi stepped back, Murong Sang-a looked into the mirror.
Not just the owner of Changbong Hall, but as a woman. Someone’s wife.
Wearing elegant attire suitable for the memorial, adorned with delicate accessories, a silver ring on one hand, and a beautifully made-up face with the hairpin in her hair.
This was beauty she wished only one person would behold.
——-
After sending away all the servants, Murong Sang-a quietly waited for the time to arrive.
With Master Kang by her side, she believed they could overcome this. After the wedding day filled with love and happiness passed midnight.
Happiness turned into despair, and love began and ended.
Hyunbyeok Student Buguin’s Spirit Seat.
Kang Yoon-ho.
Murong Sang-a took out the memorial tablet for her deceased husband, placing the incense burner beside it, she lit the incense.
As the soft scent meant to honor the deceased wafted to Murong Sang-a’s nostrils, she finally spoke while looking at the memorial tablet.
“This year, I prepared even more delicious food. I brought skilled cooks from both the Central Plains and Joseon to make it.”
Murong Sang-a poured wine into the cup meant for her husband and bowed towards the memorial tablet.
“Where are you now?”
With a pained expression, Murong Sang-a asked the memorial tablet.
“Where are you enduring the wind and rain? Where could you be? I worry endlessly.”
No matter how much she searched, she could not find a trace of him.
The man who lost his life because of her, whose remains were scattered in the street. For over a year, she searched for his whereabouts, yet still could not find him.
She should be tending to and managing his grave.
Her chest burned. Would she ever find Master’s body? It was terrifying.
Murong Sang-a suppressed the anxiety in her heart and resolved to surely find him, continuing her words.
“So many things have happened. I built the Changbong Hall and stirred up the Elders’ Council to reduce my brother’s influence. I wiped out the infiltrating Demonic Cult’s troops and gained significant influence as a direct descendant.”
It had been two years since the wedding. So much had occurred.
The powerless girl had become the lord of a faction. Surely, she had the financial backing to get this far, but it was also because she worked hard and was exceptional.
Yet, she did not think so.
“All of this is thanks to Master.”
It was all thanks to him.
Her brother created a faction through the Demonic Cult, while she gained the strength to oppose them solely because of Master. She had become a force strong enough that even the Demonic Cult would hesitate to cross her.
In her heart, as the overwhelming power of the Demonic Cult loomed, the greatness of Master grew even larger.
“Master has given me so much, yet I can only do this much for you, and it burns my heart with shame.”
In the end, no one remained who knew what Master liked to eat.
What if he came and found nothing to enjoy and was disappointed? Would he cast a resentful glance in her direction?
To some, a feast of delicacies they had never tasted in their lives was laid out, but Murong Sang-a bowed her head in disappointment, feeling powerless to lift it.
Placing her hand on her chest, which felt like it was on fire, Murong Sang-a continued speaking.
“With time, wounds heal. They say that with time, painful memories fade. How can that be true?”
Some memories can confine a person more painfully for a lifetime, tormenting and transforming them.
“Master came to me like a miracle.”
He swung a sword and was drawn near her, a weak and helpless girl teetering on the brink of collapse; Master reached out to her as if the world had not ended yet.
“I’m bearing more burdens.”
The girl who once loved wielding swords had become a woman branded as a villain.
Using everything Master had given her, Murong Sang-a became the leader of the Changbong Hall and a symbol to combat the Demonic Cult entrenched in the Murong Family.
Responsibilities and weight.
Murong Sang-a felt the heavy expectations on her. For merely a 21-year-old woman, the responsibility was immense.
Did they say that wounds would be forgotten with time?
As the days passed, the figure of Kang Yoon-ho in Murong Sang-a’s life and heart only grew larger.
“I want to drop everything right now and rush to see your face.”
Would she be able to meet him if she ended her life right now?
Guilt began to deepen, filling her heart. Her love for Master only grew stronger.
Longing intensified with each passing moment.
Wheeee.
Was it a strange coincidence? Just like that time last year, a warm breeze entered the room.
“Master…”
Could it be that he came to savor the food she prepared for him?
She couldn’t bear to lift her head.
She had decorated herself beautifully to show him, but she could not lift her gaze before him.
Because she had achieved nothing yet. Because she was a woman stained with sin.
The warm breeze slightly burned the incense stick further before it brushed past Murong Sang-a’s cheek.
The wind was warm but a bit rough. Like a reprimand from a husband to his wife, urging her not to be weak.
The warm breeze passed her cheek and disappeared.
“Master. I want to see your face once again.”
As the wind faded, she resolved and whispered her wish.
As the wind has said, now is not the time.
Death is merely an escape. She cannot take flight. She has no right to run away.
Murong Sang-a continued in determination.
“When that day comes, I will live to see your face.”
That day will come. Until then, she must live her best life.
One day, there will come a time when she stands at the judgment seat in the underworld.
No matter how much she gets torn apart. No matter what punishment she suffers.
She will live her best life. To say that she has fulfilled all that Master had asked of her.
Then she would at least acquire the privilege to plead for just one glimpse of Master’s face.
Tears rolled down her beautifully made-up face.
————
In Changbong Hall.
Here resides the only hope to uproot the Demonic Cult reaching for the Murong Family, now gaining notoriety as a villain in the martial world.
“Miss, through the materials you provided, we’ve narrowed down the search area for the Sacred Martial Library. It’s time to head for inspection.”
“Make the preparations.”
Murong Sang-a grasped her sword and completed her preparation to inspect.
She would search for Master’s remains, run Changbong Hall, confront Murong Bi, and continue the exploration of the Sacred Martial Library to garner legitimacy.
Today, once again, she finished her preparations to reclaim the Murong Family and eliminate the Demonic Cult.
Some may say a villain is struggling to acquire the Murong Family.
Yes, she is indeed struggling.
Before the judgment seat of the underworld, she fights for the qualification to live just for that one meeting that will someday come.
Murong Sang-a is fighting for the right to die.
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