Chapter 258: Before Going to Anhui. (2)

When was it?

It was probably around the time I was rolling around on the front lines quite a bit.

It was nighttime.

It was guard duty time, the most boring time imaginable.

-Flame.

I turned my head at the voice from beside me, as I was blankly staring at the moon.

-I told you not to call me that. You crazy bastard.

-What’s the big deal? I said friends call each other by nicknames.

-Fuck… Why does my nickname have to be Flame, of all things?

-Oh? So you’re not rejecting the idea of us being friends now?

-Get lost.

At the young man’s words, I clutched my throbbing head.

Talking to this bastard never went normally, anyway.

The Shaman’s Sleeping Dragon.

This crazy bastard, called the superior of the Five Dragons Three Peaks.

Although he always looked lazy and laid-back.

When the time came, he showed unbelievable feats as if his talent wasn’t a lie.

But his true personality felt like he wasn’t right in the head.

-Anyway, Flame, do you know that?

-What?

-The way to survive among beasts.

-…What?

Suddenly, out of the blue, I wondered what kind of bullshit this was.

Beasts? What beasts all of a sudden?

-Beasts? You mean like monsters?

-It could be monsters. Or it could be humans.

-You said beasts, so why are you talking about humans?

At my words, the Sleeping Dragon lifted the corner of his mouth.

His messy hair was caked with dust, making his face dirty, but.

Maybe because his original features were good, his smiling face looked like it could charm quite a few women.

Honestly, guys who are good-looking too should just all die.

-Our Flame is still pure, huh?

-What the hell are you saying, you bastard?

-Humans sometimes become beasts. You’ve seen it a lot too, haven’t you?

At the Sleeping Dragon’s words, my face naturally scrunched up.

Sometimes, this crazy bastard’s eyes would turn chillingly cold, and.

Now was especially like that.

Maybe it was because he looked quite cold when he was still.

When he opened his eyes, which were always smiling, like that, it was quite awkward to meet his gaze.

-I told you to look at me properly, didn’t I? I’ll gouge them out?

-Flame, aren’t you in a position to judge whether someone else’s eyes are proper or not?

-Shut up, you bastard.

-Your temper is still foul.

If I talk to this bastard even a little bit.

I feel like I’m going crazy.

Snow Phoenix. Why the hell did this crazy bitch pair me with this guy?

Of course, even if I harbored such doubts.

‘Because you’re unbelievably weak, we assigned you the Sleeping Dragon.’

It was obvious I’d only hear that disgusting answer, so I just had to endure it.

The Sleeping Dragon chuckled, finding something so amusing.

-What are you laughing at?

-As expected, talking to you is the most fun.

-I don’t think so, so please shut your mouth.

-Mmphmmphmmphmmph?

-…Seriously, you crazy bastard.

I told him to shut his mouth, but he shut it only to start talking again.

He was truly a lunatic beyond imagination.

-Isn’t this it?

-Ah… My head hurts.

I wish time would pass faster.

I might die of frustration at this rate.

-Okay, anyway, listen carefully.

-What do you keep telling me to listen to?

-The way to survive.

-If it’s the same nonsense you spouted last time, I’m not listening?

What was it again?

Did he tell me to calm my temper and endure three times even when angry?

It was advice I’d dismissed, as I didn’t understand why I should endure when the other party was being a jerk.

-No, it’s a bit different from that.

-What is it?

-The easiest way to survive is.

At the Sleeping Dragon’s clearly enunciated voice.

My ears unconsciously perked up.

I wondered what he was concentrating so hard to say.

A way to survive? Could the Sleeping Dragon have some special secret method?

As if sensing my doubt, the Sleeping Dragon smiled and gave his answer.

-Not putting yourself in dangerous situations.

-…

-…What’s with that expression?

-I’m the idiot for expecting anything from you, even for a moment.

-Hey, this is really important.

-Of course, it’s important, you bastard.

How is this different from saying that if you just train hard, you can become the greatest under the heavens someday?

Do you think people put themselves in dangerous situations because they want to?

-Right. People don’t put themselves in danger because they want to.

-…Did I just say that out loud?

-Flame, it’s all written on your face.

-What bullshit.

-That’s why it’s more fun.

Maybe my expression was that funny.

The Sleeping Dragon chuckled.

Why is he grinning while looking at my face?

Should I just punch his face?

-But you tend to go even when you know it’s dangerous.

-What?

-You have a tendency to enter even when you know it’ll be dangerous.

-…

I couldn’t possibly deny this.

As the Sleeping Dragon said, there were several times I went in knowing it would fuck me up, but.

-What does that have to do with this?

At my question, the Sleeping Dragon made a strange expression.

He looked like he was contemplating something.

-Right, Flame, you don’t really understand things when they’re said indirectly.

-What are you…

-It means don’t just charge in recklessly; live life thinking a bit. You’ll die… Ah, I said it indirectly on purpose because I knew you’d react like this! Put out the fire in your hand! You’ll wake everyone up.

-Who are you calling reckless?

-It’s just a saying. If you think it’s dangerous, think one more time before going in. It’s better not to do things you can’t handle.

-I’ll handle it myself, so stop worrying about it.

-…That’s the least trustworthy thing anyone could say.

In the end, the conversation concluded with me getting angry at the Sleeping Dragon’s last words.

And releasing flames.

The Sleeping Dragon would often spout incomprehensible words.

How did he know I was getting angry and grab me to endure before I could even lash out?

Every time I tried to throw my life away, he’d appear like a ghost and stop me.

It was to the point where I wondered if he could read minds, but.

Occasionally, his advice, delivered so poorly, didn’t really register with me.

Of course.

Later on, I realized they were words that were somewhat helpful.

But back then, I didn’t know.

Humans are animals that only realize things after experiencing them themselves.

If I had known beforehand that it would become a dangerous situation.

It means I shouldn’t have created that situation in the first place.

It’s such a simple and obvious principle, yet.

Why couldn’t I do that?

Right, if I had been good at that from the start.

“…Could you move aside a bit? It gets hot when people are crowded together.”

“…No.”

This situation wouldn’t have happened.

Thump- roll roll.

Annoyed by the clinging movements, I dropped a dumpling.

In the end, I picked up a dumpling again and shouted at the cats on both sides.

“Hey! Move away! Let me eat!”

Only after shouting did things finally calm down.

It was only then.

That I looked at the women on either side and thought about the chaotic situation.

---

If I recall my blunders.

The first was bringing these two along to escape the situation and coming out to the county.

What’s important here is not that I came out to the county, but.

That I brought ‘the two’ with me.

If I was going to come out, I should have brought only one person.

The problem was that I just dragged both of them out without thinking.

The second is.

These two people get along even worse than I thought.

The reason I bothered to come out to the county was that I wanted to get out for a bit, avoiding my father’s gaze.

And because Moyong Hi-ah was cooking at the Moyong family building she had made in the county, I decided to go.

Since it was a place directly managed by the Moyong family anyway.

I was also curious about what it would feel like.

It was nice when I saw it.

The building’s condition was much better than I expected.

The ornaments and clothes they sold were all of excellent quality.

Perhaps thanks to that, the customers were either the owners of famous merchant guilds.

Or mostly young ladies from promising sects or families.

It would be right to say they were bringing in money hand over fist.

‘It’s probably even more so because it’s a monopoly.’

The ornaments were said to be hand-embroidered by the artisans of the Tang family, weren’t they?

I never thought the proud artisans of the Tang family would actually make ornaments.

‘I thought they only made weapons and armor.’

Including the ornaments that went into the clothing.

Items decorated with jewels, made to appeal to women’s desire for adornment, caught my eye.

The quality was even high.

They were also arranged so people could easily look at them.

‘If they’re displayed like that, won’t they get stolen?’

They were placed so conveniently that I even had such thoughts.

Of course, what crazy person would even think of stealing from the Moyong family’s building?

Up to this point, it was good.

It was quite worth seeing.

Moyong Hi-ah was responsible for managing the place, so even if I didn’t feel particularly moved.

Namgung Bi-ah seemed somewhat interested.

Afterwards.

Following Moyong Hi-ah’s introduction, we went to an inn.

This place was also said to be one of the places managed by the Moyong family.

Although not much time had passed.

Had they already built an inn?

‘How on earth did she manage this, especially after being on the front lines for a year?’

I don’t think Moyong Hi-ah managed all of this alone, but.

If her abilities were involved to some extent.

She was definitely an outstanding person when it came to matters like this.

Anyway.

The problem started around the time we were about to eat.

“Young Master, please try this.”

“…I’m eating.”

“They say this is a dish the chef is confident about these days.”

“I’m telling you, I’m eating.”

It was fine that she kept offering food this way, but.

“This…”

“…I’m telling you, I’m eating…”

With both sides offering food, it was quite overwhelming.

My stomach wasn’t infinite.

And if I accepted food from one side but not the other, that would also be a problem.

“Young Master, they said this one is delicious too.”

Just as I managed to chew and swallow one bite, Moyong Hi-ah offered something else.

I didn’t know what it was, but it looked like a slightly red dish.

As I let out a small sigh and was about to eat it.

Snatch!

Namgung Bi-ah snatched the food Moyong Hi-ah was offering and ate it herself.

Moyong Hi-ah looked dumbfounded at the situation that unfolded in an instant.

But she soon seemed to regain her composure.

She slightly raised her eyes and looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

“…Sword Dancer…”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s chilling voice.

Namgung Bi-ah diligently chewed the food in her mouth.

Perhaps because the portion was a bit large, Namgung Bi-ah, with her mouth relatively full, seemed to take a little time to swallow.

Gulp.

Having finally swallowed, Namgung Bi-ah looked at Moyong Hi-ah and gestured.

“…This person can’t eat spicy food.”

“Ah…!”

At Namgung Bi-ah’s words, Moyong Hi-ah wore an expression as if she’d been struck.

It was an expression that clearly showed she hadn’t known.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but be quite surprised by Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

‘How does she know that?’

Just as I wondered how she knew I was weak to spicy food.

‘Ah.’

Around the time I attended the Tang family’s martial arts gathering.

When I had a meal with Namgung Bi-ah and other disciples.

I recalled Namgung Bi-ah offering me water because I couldn’t handle spicy food well.

She must have remembered that.

‘She remembers the strangest things.’

Recalling that I couldn’t eat spicy food well.

It seemed she ate the dish, which clearly looked spicy, in my place.

The problem was.

“…Nngh.”

Namgung Bi-ah also couldn’t really handle spicy food well.

Seeing her fair white skin flush red from eating the spicy food.

I couldn’t hold back my laughter and burst out laughing.

“Why did you do something like that?”

“…Nngh…”

Maybe it was spicier than she expected, as she couldn’t control her arms and flailed slightly.

It was quite an uncharacteristic display for the usually quiet Namgung Bi-ah.

The contrast was so striking that my laughter wouldn’t stop.

Trickle.

Unable to watch any longer, I poured water into a glass and handed it to Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah hastily drank the water.

For some reason, that sight.

Reminded me of myself in Sichuan, and the contrast felt significant.

It felt different.

“…Hoo, I lost this one too.”

Beside me, Moyong Hi-ah wore a subtly disappointed expression, as if she had lost.

Lost what?

“As expected, it’s not easy to see… Sword Dancer.”

“Hi-ah.”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s voice, Namgung Bi-ah, having barely recovered from the spiciness, called out to Moyong Hi-ah.

Perhaps it was the first time.

Namgung Bi-ah had called Moyong Hi-ah by her name.

“What… did you just say.”

“…Me.”

Moyong Hi-ah tried to ask again, as if she misheard.

But Namgung Bi-ah cut her off by pointing a finger at herself.

“Fiancée…”

“…!”

At the words Namgung Bi-ah casually uttered, Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened considerably.

It felt like she was implying, ‘I am the fiancée, but you are not.’

Perhaps it was also because Namgung Bi-ah, who was speaking, had a faint smile on her face.

Maybe she looked annoying, because I saw Moyong Hi-ah clench her fists.

I wondered what she was doing, not eating her food and just staring like that.

Thanks to that, I, stuck in the middle watching this unfold.

“…I think I’m going to indigestion.”

I couldn’t even tell where the food was going.

---

After barely stuffing down the meal, I came outside.

Outside, the sun had already set, and the moon had risen; it was night.

But.

‘It’s changed so much.’

The nights in Shanxi, which were relatively quiet just last year.

Seemed a bit different now, perhaps because a year had passed.

The lights from the street vendors were bright.

There were more people than before.

It couldn’t possibly have changed just because time passed.

Perhaps the reason was that the Moyong family’s commercial district was properly established.

While I wondered if just one commercial district could cause such a change.

It also made me realize the value of the Moyong family’s name in terms of commerce.

Since I’d gotten some fresh air.

I could just stroll around outside and then head back to the family estate.

‘…I can’t stand watching that cold war any longer.’

The women following me at a distance behind were still there.

The atmosphere was such that I thought it might be better if they just fought each other.

Maybe because they were complete opposites, they just didn’t get along at all.

And I couldn’t exactly force them together…

‘Ah, right.’

As I thought about it, I remembered something I had forgotten.

I hadn’t yet asked Moyong Hi-ah what she planned to do when I went to Anhui.

My father said the conversation was already over, but.

‘…I forgot to ask because I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere.’

It was a mistake.

I should have asked during dinner earlier.

‘Should I ask now?’

I immediately turned around and looked at Moyong Hi-ah.

“Hm?”

When I looked back, Moyong Hi-ah, who had been following, was looking somewhere.

Following her gaze.

It was just an ordinary street vendor.

‘What is it?’

I approached Moyong Hi-ah slightly and asked her.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

Perhaps she didn’t expect me to approach her first, Moyong Hi-ah looked surprised for a moment.

“When I go to Anhui this time. What have you decided to do?”

“What?”

“The Family Head said the conversation was already over.”

“Didn’t you hear?”

“He told me to hear it directly from you.”

Why couldn’t she just tell me?

I didn’t understand why she wanted me to hear it directly.

At my words, Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes suddenly held a different glint.

She smiled slightly.

It was the kind of expression she made when she thought of some strange scheme.

“…What are you thinking?”

“Are you curious?”

“What?”

“I thought you might be curious.”

“A little?”

To my answer, Moyong Hi-ah pointed somewhere with her fingertip as if she had been waiting.

Wondering what it was, I followed her gaze.

It was the street vendor Moyong Hi-ah had been looking at earlier.

“Please buy me that.”

“Huh?”

“If you buy it for me… I’ll tell you.”

Her fingertip was pointing at a small necklace at the vendor.

Looking closer, it was just a cheap imitation, no different from a fake.

“What is that?”

“I just… wanted it.”

Moyong Hi-ah said to me, slightly avoiding my gaze.

Although it seemed meaningless to me.

Since the price wasn’t significant in the first place.

I didn’t hesitate at all.

I immediately paid the price and handed it to Moyong Hi-ah.

“…Ah.”

Moyong Hi-ah, having received the necklace, let out a small sigh of admiration.

It wasn’t because the necklace she received was pretty.

Adorned with much finer treasures.

It was unlikely Moyong Hi-ah, who probably had plenty of such things, would be impressed by such a trinket.

“Thank you. I’ll cherish it.”

Still.

Moyong Hi-ah’s voice held a certain warmth.

Even though it was just this cheap necklace.

“If you wanted it that badly, why didn’t you just buy it yourself?”

“…It wouldn’t have much meaning if I bought it myself.”

Saying that, Moyong Hi-ah smiled brightly.

‘Hmm.’

It felt like the first time I’d seen her smile so brightly…

Zzzzt.

“…!”

Suddenly.

I felt a surge of energy from behind.

Although I couldn’t turn around to look.

It was obvious whose energy this was.

“…Haa.”

A small sigh could be heard.

Only then did I belatedly realize that I had just made a huge mistake.