Chapter 109: Oops. (1)

Ah. (1)

Setting out on the road to return to the Clan Manor, the season had changed before I knew it.

The sweltering heat had passed, and the vibrant green leaves were already changing color.

Autumn, filled with a gentle breeze, had arrived.

Thinking back, it was spring when I first regressed; I was already experiencing the third season.

“Finally arrived….”

Since I’d been sitting in the carriage for too long, I twisted my stiffened waist.

Crack-!

Just by moving my body slightly, I heard a creaking sound.

Maybe it’s because we entered the city; many bustling people could be seen.

[Is this Shanxi?]

‘Is this your first time here?’

[Of course not; it’s just that it’s so different from my memory.]

Could it be that different from the time Elder Shin was active? It was puzzling that he spoke as if it were a place he was seeing for the first time.

‘Because a lot of time has passed.’

Perhaps sensing our arrival, Namgung Bi-ah, who had been sleeping leaning on Wi Seol-ah’s shoulder, opened her eyes slightly. I was just about to wake her up anyway, but she woke up on her own.

Namgung Bi-ah stretched her hands out and tossed and turned. Seeing that, I said.

“You must have slept really well; you look refreshed?”

“…Refreshed.”

Although I asked somewhat teasingly, Namgung Bi-ah took it straightforwardly.

Chuckling at that sight, I turned my gaze to the window.

Wi Seol-ah, who had been sleeping with her, would probably wake up soon.

“We should arrive shortly.”

At Mu Yeon’s words, who had been walking alongside the carriage, I cast my gaze afar.

The walls surrounding the Gu Clan manor came into view in the distance.

Seeing the suffocating walls encircling the Clan Manor made it feel real again.

“I’ve really returned.”

I had returned home after several months.

---

As the carriage entered the Gu Clan manor, countless people had already gathered at the main gate.

I had expected this in the first place, since I had sent a letter to the Clan Manor beforehand.

Just Gu Ling-hwa’s return would have been quite a commotion, but with the names of the Divine Healer and Sword Empress added…

As I got off the carriage, I saw a fierce-looking middle-aged man at the very front of the crowd. Gu Cheol-un the Valiant Hero, my father, was waiting out front.

[That person must be your father.]

‘You recognized him right away?’

[He looks exactly the same; it would be strange not to recognize him…]

…Do we look that much alike? Then again, I think I heard people say we looked alike often since childhood.

And even more as I grew older.

[In fact, you look even fiercer. That’s amazing in many ways.]

‘…’

That wasn’t a compliment at all.

I walked over and looked at my father.

My gaze met my father’s. Meeting his crimson eyes, which emitted a deep light, was still a bit overwhelming.

“Hmm.”

My father, who had been watching me silently, had one of his eyebrows twitch momentarily.

His gaze, filled with a fiery red glow, swept over me.

It seems he had noticed the changes in me.

‘I tried my best to hide it, you know.’

Although it wasn’t that long, it was enough time to conceal my aura.

I had purified all the demonic energy I missed absorbing from the Rakshasa, and I could calm the internal energy that used to roam freely outside my lower dantian.

With this, I thought I had reached a level where I could somewhat conceal my cultivation, but it seems I couldn’t avoid even my father’s gaze.

My father watched me silently before opening his mouth.

“I received what you sent and the letter from the Mount Hua Sect. It seems many things happened.”

“…A few things happened.”

My father nodded slightly at my words. It was a rather subdued reaction.

I had only intended to return the artifact and bring back Gu Ling-hwa, but things got complicated. How could I have known such an incident would occur?

“Since you’ve finished your travels, rest for a day and come to my room by the Zi hour tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

Even though we met after a long time, that was the end of the conversation. My father quickly passed me and headed towards the Sword Empress and the Divine Healer.

My father approached the Divine Healer and bowed slightly.

“It’s been a while, Divine Healer.”

“…Indeed, it has been a while, Clan Head Gu. It’s been over ten years since I last saw you.”

“Have you been well?”

“An old man like me? How could I possibly be well? I’m just living because I haven’t died yet. It’s fortunate that the Clan Head looks well.”

It seemed my father and the Divine Healer knew each other.

Then again, my father was active for a period, so it wouldn’t be strange if they had crossed paths.

“I have prepared accommodations without any inconvenience.”

“What did you prepare?”

“Since you mentioned you didn’t desire anything extravagant, I prepared a separate annex.”

“…Tsk, just welcoming me like this is already bothersome. Moreover, I clearly said a small room would suffice.”

Despite the Divine Healer’s nonchalant tone, my father’s expression remained the same.

His gaze now turned to the Sword Empress. Gu Ling-hwa was clinging tightly to the Sword Empress’s back, and when my father’s gaze fell upon her, her shoulders trembled slightly, catching my eye.

The Sword Empress looked at my father and calmly paid her respects.

“…It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“I heard you plan to stay with your daughter.”

“If you permit it, I sincerely wish to do so.”

“I understand your intention, so there’s no reason to refuse. I hope you have a comfortable stay.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

My father then looked towards Gu Ling-hwa, but said nothing more.

“You worked hard.”

That was all he said.

I thought he seemed too indifferent towards his daughter whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, but actually, that reaction made Gu Ling-hwa look more at ease.

After the greetings were finished, just as I was wondering if we could go inside now, someone was approaching my father.

“…Huh?”

It was Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had gotten off the carriage, was approaching my father.

“I greet the Clan Head of the Shanxi Gu Clan. I am Namgung Bi-ah of the Namgung Family.”

She said, bowing her head demurely, and her tone was different. I had never seen Namgung Bi-ah speak so precisely before.

A completely different person was standing there. Gone was her usual dazed look; her straight, upright posture and neat hair gave off a prim and proper aura.

“…Who is that?”

[I can hardly believe that’s the same girl who was drooling while half-asleep earlier…]

It was an unbelievable, sudden change.

My father looked at Namgung Bi-ah and nodded.

“…I am Gu Cheol-un. I heard the news that you are traveling with my son.”

“Thanks to Young Master Gu’s consideration, I was fortunate enough to accompany him.”

“Things happened that way, but I want you to know that the Namgung Family is looking for you. Since we’ve confirmed your whereabouts, we need to contact them.”

Namgung Bi-ah nodded at my father’s words.

After exchanging a few more words, she quickly came back towards us.

“What the…?”

“Huh…?”

When I asked in surprise, she had instantly returned to her original expression and tone.

What is this? It’s a little, no, very scary…?

Was she always capable of speaking like this?

“Wh- no, what did you talk about?”

“…Until they send someone from home… to stay here.”

Seeing her return to normal, I felt like I had hallucinated for a moment.

Moreover, it seems they would contact the Namgung Family. It wasn’t a normal accompaniment in the first place.

I thought people from the Namgung clan might already be stationed and waiting at the Gu Clan manor, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to be the case.

“Will you be okay?”

In such a situation, I asked Namgung Bi-ah without realizing it.

Whether I was asking if she’d be okay going back, or if she’d be okay staying here for a while, I wasn’t sure myself.

It was something I blurted out without thinking.

Namgung Bi-ah looked slightly surprised at my question, but she quickly smiled.

At that sudden smile, I became a little flustered instead.

Namgung Bi-ah said.

“It’s okay.”

Her tone was firm.

“…Because there’s nothing to fear anymore.”

She uttered those cryptic words and walked away, following the attendant.

What could those words have meant?

They seemed to hold much meaning, but more than that, the smile Namgung Bi-ah wore lingered in my mind.

[She’s quite the charmer, isn’t she?]

I think I understood that it wasn’t about her appearance.

The more I saw her, the more I saw aspects of Namgung Bi-ah I didn’t know.

To be precise, should I say, different from the Sword Empress?

Even though it was the same person, she looked so different.

It was different from the vacant eyes she always had, and the smile that had started to appear, even slightly, was different too.

[You seem disappointed.]

I nodded at Elder Shin’s words.

If I were to say I was disappointed, that would be the truth.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed.

It felt like I realized she could be like this too late.

I was staring blankly when someone grabbed my hand. I felt a warm, soft palm.

“Young Master! Let’s go inside quickly!”

Wi Seol-ah had approached unnoticed and taken my hand.

“Right, we need to go inside now.”

Whether the conversation was over, my father too headed towards the Clan Manor, leading the guests.

‘Did he say to rest for a day?’

The fact that he told me to come to his room tomorrow must mean that. Besides, I was a bit tired from the long camping trip, so I needed time to rest.

‘The flower is the biggest problem.’

The flower obtained after killing the Rakshasa at the Black Night Palace branch remained unconsumed, even after several months had passed.

I thought at least seven days and nights would be enough, but the process of assimilating it into my body took much longer than expected.

[You postponed it, didn’t you? Saying you couldn’t grasp the feel.]

I wanted to learn the application of internal energy that Elder Shin had shown me, and the sense of properly mixing it with martial energy.

‘If my internal energy increased further from there, I simply saw it as poison for now.’

It wasn’t easy to consume it during the camping trip, and I judged that getting used to my changed state was more important.

This was a possible choice due to the flower’s strange properties-it didn’t wilt over time, nor did its internal energy scatter.

Another thing I could discern was:

‘The flower’s energy cannot be sensed without demonic energy.’

This was close to my guess, but I was half-convinced.

During the long journey, let alone the Sword Empress, Mu Yeon also didn’t sense the flower. Even though it was wrapped in cloth, it was tightly bound by energy like this; there was no way they wouldn’t notice.

Meanwhile, Namgung Bi-ah seemed to faintly catch a scent of blood, but she still didn’t seem to sense the flower’s energy.

This was rather fortunate for me.

[Do you think it’s possible now?]

Elder Shin asked if I could consume it now.

‘Yes, I have sufficiently organized it with this much preparation.’

If you ask if it’s perfect, I can’t give a definite yes, but I think I’m prepared enough to be satisfied.

‘I plan to consume it tonight.’

Elder Shin didn’t say anything else upon hearing my words. His reaction seemed to imply ‘do as you please’.

The quarters I returned to after a long time looked the same as ever. Which was only natural, as the attendants must have managed it even though I wasn’t here.

The few people who left for Shanxi with me must surely be tired, but they immediately started unpacking and working.

I found it impressive in many ways.

I washed up a bit and changed my clothes, my body tired from the journey. Since there was still time before sunset, I was thinking of resting for a bit.

“Young Master.”

An attendant approached and delivered a message.

“What is it?”

“A guest is in the annex.”

“A guest all of a sudden? My guest…?”

A guest right after I just returned? I asked, sitting up.

“Who is it?”

At the attendant’s subsequent answer, I had no choice but to hurry over.

---

Ten days.

My guest had come to the Gu Clan manor and spent a full ten days there.

It was such a long time to spend in an unfamiliar place where no one was looking for her.

That’s long enough to just assume she had bad luck and meet her another time.

Moreover, it wasn’t just anyone; it must have been quite an uncomfortable situation for a precious jewel from a prestigious family to endure.

Yet, the young lady had spent ten days here.

Looking at the young lady, I asked.

“…How did you end up here?”

I tried to meet her gaze, but the young lady deliberately avoided my eyes.

Her face was slightly flushed, and she just kept drinking the steaming tea, remaining silent.

“Young Lady Tang.”

When I called out softly, the young lady flinched and trembled.

“Yes…?”

“I heard you came looking for me.”

The precious jewel of the Tang Clan, whom I met at the previous Tang Clan Martial Competition, was sitting before me.

That young lady, currently known as the Poisonous Crane and later as the Poisonous Princess.

Tang Soyeol took a deep breath and finally opened her mouth.

“Yes… Yes! I came looking for you…”

She seemed to be speaking bravely, but her words trailed off as she spoke.

“…From Sichuan all the way here? Such a long distance?”

“Yes, it wasn’t really far?”

She seemed to realize how strange it sounded, and her voice turned questioning. It’s definitely far; I’ve been there myself.

‘I went there intending to empty my pockets, but what about her?’

When I first heard, I momentarily thought she must have come looking for Namgung Bi-ah, not me. But remembering this was the Gu Clan manor, I knew that couldn’t be right. It meant this was that strange.

[…Bastard.]

‘Wh- What did you say?’

For a moment, I thought I misheard.

At the grating, vulgar curse, I tried calling for Elder Shin again, but he had vanished; only silence answered.

In the end, I decided to ignore Elder Shin for now and focus on Tang Soyeol in front of me.

“So, you are confirming that you came looking for me?”

“Yes, yes! I came to see you, Young Master Gu…”

“Why?”

“Well, because I wanted to see… Blrgh!”

Mid-sentence, Tang Soyeol slapped her own lips. Then, with a bright red face, she started gulping down the tea.

‘…That’s hot, you know?’

Even I, who am practicing fire arts, can’t really drink hot things well, but Tang Soyeol didn’t seem bothered by the heat.

Tang Soyeol, having finished the tea, exhaled a puff of heat and said to me.

“Y-Young Master Gu…”

“Yes?”

“…Because there’s something I want to suggest, I came all this way.”

From Sichuan to Shanxi, a blood relative of the Tang Clan, in person?

What important matter could it be that brought her here in person?

Pondering this, I asked Tang Soyeol.

“Please tell me.”

“Before that… there was something I wanted to ask you…”

“What…?”

Tang Soyeol, who seemed to have calmed down somewhat, had a faint trace of resentment in her eyes.

I wondered what she was going to ask with that look; the question mark that popped into my head was immediately answered by Tang Soyeol’s question.

“…You said your name was Gu Jeolyub… What’s that about?”

…Oops.

Something I had completely forgotten came back to me.