Chapter 407: Want to play with big sister for a while?

[Miss Mi.]

The night Moyong Biyeon met Mi Hyoran. It was the first time she saw Mi Hyoran’s eyes widen so much.

She had always thought of her as a cold and unwavering person, but to see such great agitation!

Is it because she’s getting older too?

It felt like something rigid had softened a little.

Right.

Everyone has aged.

At least ten years have passed, so it must be natural.

Every time she recalled that natural truth, something unpleasant would stir within Moyong Biyeon.

While trying hard to hide such feelings, Moyong Biyeon spoke to Mi Hyoran.

[It’s been a long time. Miss Mi.]

[…You…]

[Have you been well?]

On the face of the friend she met after a long time, the flow of time could be felt.

Not talking about differences in skin or wrinkles, but a difference could be felt in the aura she possessed.

Should I say she had become a bit more refined?

Just as treasures become more valuable as time imbues them, the friend before her eyes had become a more noble figure through the passage of years.

Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon thought.

[That’s unfair.]

[…What?…]

[No. It’s nothing.]

She didn’t believe he chose Mi Hyoran because of her appearance like that.

It was because it was the best choice.

In the past, she used to make excuses to herself like that.

But.

Was that purely a matter of the ‘past’?

She didn’t know if she herself might still be lingering in the memories of that time.

Around the time Moyong Biyeon was slowly being consumed by memories.

Mi Hyoran looked at her and asked a question.

[How have you been?…]

[Me? I’ve been well. As always.]

[I sent contact a few times, but I didn’t receive a reply. Did something happen?]

[Ah…]

Those letters were probably still somewhere within the Moyong Family.

Because she had already told the Family Head not to send anything that arrived at the family to her.

The Family Head was the type to faithfully keep Moyong Biyeon’s stubborn request like that.

[I’m sorry.]

These were the best words Moyong Biyeon could offer Mi Hyoran.

She didn’t blurt out any excuses.

Not only did she have no excuses to make, but it was also the result of her own choices.

[I had a lot going on.]

[Is that so.]

Mi Hyoran nodded at Moyong Biyeon’s words, and that was the end of it.

Leaving behind perfectly understandable doubts and resentment, such as questioning if it was true or saying it wasn’t too much.

Mi Hyoran’s response was one of trust and tranquility.

Because Moyong Biyeon said so, she must have decided to believe it.

Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon was convinced once again.

That she still couldn’t beat her.

[…Miss Mi, you’re still the same.]

[You’re the same as well.]

Moyong Biyeon had to give a wry smile inwardly at Mi Hyoran’s words.

[Just like the last time we met, you’re just as you were.]

[…]

Since that time when they wanted to go their separate ways after everything ended.

Moyong Biyeon’s appearance hadn’t changed at all.

Whether it was her appearance or her state of mind.

Was that really something to be happy about?

Moyong Biyeon couldn’t help but feel a little hateful towards herself for not having become mature at all.

Seeing Moyong Biyeon like that, Mi Hyoran asked.

[Did you come because you have business with me?]

[Hmm… It just so happened I had something to do in Hanam. I heard Miss Mi was here, so I came to see you.]

[At this hour of the night?]

[I’m sorry about that…]

[It’s okay. Since you came after a long time.]

The thorns slightly contained in her words were particularly sharp.

It was the kind of tone that made one think Mi Hyoran was still Mi Hyoran, even after time had passed.

While Moyong Biyeon wore an awkward expression, Mi Hyoran asked one thing with a slightly hesitant voice.

[Then, did you come just to see me?]

[If you came to see him…]

[No. I came just to see Miss Mi.]

Just as Mi Hyoran was about to say something, Moyong Biyeon cut her off.

[…It’s not like that.]

She denied it once again.

It was a lie.

Moyong Biyeon’s original purpose was to arrive in Hanam and face that person, but she had simply chosen differently by now.

The reason for changing her choice like this was probably because she encountered that person’s child.

Was it because she witnessed with her own eyes a young man resembling him walking around?

Or perhaps this too was an excuse, and it was simply because she was afraid to meet that person?

Even Moyong Biyeon herself could not be sure of this.

What’s important is that she didn’t want to face him yet.

Perhaps sensing Moyong Biyeon’s feelings like that, Mi Hyoran looked at her with strange eyes.

[…Will you be alright?]

[Of course? I’m always fine. I have no problems.]

Moyong Biyeon smiled, hiding various emotions.

As always.

Though so much time had passed, the emotions that hadn’t dulled deepened further.

Moyong Biyeon had thought she had forgotten all of it.

That’s why she had thought she could finally meet that person now, but…

The moment she faced his son, who resembled that person, she realized that such feelings were wrong.

It was still impossible for her to forget him.

Therefore, Moyong Biyeon could not meet him.

With her current feelings, she didn’t have the confidence to face him with a smile, even if she met him.

Because that would be something she couldn’t do to him, nor to her friend.

Moyong Biyeon continued speaking to Mi Hyoran, hiding those feelings.

[Oh, right, Miss Mi, do you know something? I met Miss Mi’s daughter earlier.]

At those words, Mi Hyoran’s expression changed.

Daughter? If it’s her daughter…

[My second daughter. Her name was Yeonseo? She was a pretty child.]

Mi Hyoran was relieved at those words.

It was fortunate.

If it wasn’t the first but the second, she’s a relatively normal figure, so nothing must have happened.

[…That’s fortunate.]

[What?]

[No. So?]

At the sudden mention of meeting Gu Yeonseo, Mi Hyoran asked, slightly flustered.

Moyong Biyeon considered mentioning getting involved with that Peng guy, but decided to move on for now and brought up another topic.

[She was really pretty, wasn’t she? Maybe it’s because she resembles Miss Mi.]

[…]

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, Mi Hyoran subtly avoided her gaze.

Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon could inwardly chuckle slightly.

That behavior, showing shyness, seemed unchanged even after time had passed.

[And, I also met that famous child these days. Gu Yangcheon, I believe.]

[…!]

At those words, Mi Hyoran’s gaze flashed as she looked at Moyong Biyeon.

Because she hadn’t expected Gu Yangcheon’s story to come up here.

[How did you…?]

[He resembled him a lot.]

[White Lotus Sword…]

Moyong Biyeon smiled bitterly at the words Mi Hyoran called out.

Her own nickname, which she called, felt quite unfamiliar.

[Please don’t call me that, Miss Mi. It’s just… it’s a bit…]

[Then what should I call you?]

[Just like the old days, Moyong Sojeo or Biyeon Sojeo is fine. Ah, if necessary, even like the old days, ‘damned bitch’ or ‘killer bitch’ is fine…]

[I’ll call you Moyong Sojeo.]

[Okay.]

As Moyong Biyeon brought up dark history she wanted to erase, Mi Hyoran quickly interrupted.

Back then, they were particularly sharp with each other, so such things were bound to happen.

Now, it must be a memory.

Hmm hmm.

Mi Hyoran might not know, but at least Moyong Biyeon thought so.

[Anyway, I saw the child, and they were amazing, you know? They resembled their father.]

[Right?]

Perhaps because she praised Gu Yangcheon, a smile briefly bloomed on Mi Hyoran’s face.

That smile felt particularly striking to Moyong Biyeon’s eyes.

As far as Moyong Biyeon knew, Gu Yangcheon, before being that person’s child.

She heard he was the son of a tomboy she knew.

Why was Mi Hyoran making that kind of expression?

For Moyong Biyeon, who had never given birth to a child, it was hard to know, but.

One thing she could know was.

[You’ve become a mother, Miss Mi.]

[What?]

Unlike Mi Hyoran’s maiden days back then, the fact that she is now called ‘mother’.

Unlike herself, who was lingering in those days.

Is that why?

Her niece’s gaze particularly came to mind.

Because she resembled herself, who poured out all her emotions and moments towards one man, that felt particularly troubling to Moyong Biyeon.

It was a wish that her niece’s end wouldn’t be the same as hers.

Then what should she do?

Would stopping her work?

Stop it, trying to love like that wouldn’t bring any good.

Would that work if she said that?

It wouldn’t, would it?

It was an obvious fact.

If she reached the point of making that kind of expression, it was over.

Moyong Biyeon knew that fact best, not anyone else.

Then what should she do?

Moyong Biyeon thinks.

A means to help her niece and sort out her own unnecessary emotions.

It was just a thought, but Moyong Biyeon had already come up with a method while coming to meet Mi Hyoran.

[So, about that. Miss Mi.]

At Moyong Biyeon’s call, Mi Hyoran looked up.

Because Moyong Biyeon was never good at handling clever methods to begin with.

Even the method she managed to think of wasn’t particularly outstanding.

As always, all she knew how to do was charge in headfirst.

Towards Mi Hyoran, who wore a puzzled expression, Moyong Biyeon asked.

[Perhaps, doesn’t your son need a bodyguard or something?]

[…What?…]

At that sudden remark, Mi Hyoran had to frown.

---

Recalling that time, Moyong Biyeon awkwardly scratched her head.

‘What bodyguard, what bodyguard.’

Although she blurted it out, it was a rather absurd method.

To help her niece and forget him by sticking close to his child to experience reality.

Isn’t it a rather ridiculous method?

Moyong Biyeon knew that very well herself, but.

‘What can I do? I’ve already done it.’

Since it was something already done, Moyong Biyeon decided to forget about the past.

As was her usual personality, she didn’t hold much attachment to past events.

There was only one thing she held attachment to.

Now, Moyong Biyeon was walking around the campsite, feeling the morning.

‘His expression was interesting.’

Right after she said she would be his bodyguard from now on.

Gu Yangcheon’s expression came to mind.

‘He resembles him, yet is different.’

Seeing that, she was gradually realizing.

Unlike her father, who had no expression changes at all, Gu Yangcheon was the type whose changes were easily visible.

People usually hide things a little, but Gu Yangcheon would openly show his displeasure.

Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon slightly wondered.

‘What on earth did my niece fall for?’

She wondered what about Gu Yangcheon her niece, Moyong Hi-ah, had fallen for.

To be honest, although he resembled his father, only his unique fierce aura and eyes resembled him.

In terms of appearance, he felt a bit lacking compared to his father.

Of course, Moyong Biyeon tended not to mention it, because she had casually brought this up once and saw Moyong Hi-ah get serious with her for the first time.

‘His personality too… doesn’t seem quiet.’

He didn’t seem overly talkative, but he wasn’t exactly quiet either.

Rather, should I say he seemed to have a somewhat bad personality?

Rumors are usually exaggerated, but the talk about him having a bad temper didn’t seem very different.

So, putting it all together.

His appearance isn’t outstanding.

His personality is on the bad side.

He’s not particularly big either, and he has many women around him.

All he currently has is overwhelming talent and, because of that, a solid future as a warrior.

Looking at this, even if my niece is drawn to him as a potential husband solely for the latter, I don’t see any part where she could feel love.

‘…Why on earth?’

It was a part Moyong Biyeon couldn’t easily understand.

Accordingly, the saying about him being blessed with women was also a situation that was hard to understand.

‘Is this also genetics if it’s genetics?’

Not just talent in martial arts, but if he inherited this part too, she thought it might be possible, but.

No matter how she looked at it, it wasn’t an understandable part.

‘…There must be something…’

There must be charm she can’t see.

That’s why it turned out this way.

Although she hadn’t seen her niece for a long time, she believed at least that child wouldn’t have taken a liking to someone unattractive.

Because Moyong Biyeon also knew that, she wanted to push for it.

It’s just that.

‘My conscience pricks me a bit, that’s the problem…’

The problem, if it was a problem, was that mixed into the reason for wanting to push for it was a dark emotion of wanting at least vicarious satisfaction by projecting herself onto her niece.

Well, good is good…

Feeling that unpleasantness, Moyong Biyeon moved her feet.

Since she had at least said she’d be a bodyguard, she was trying to find Gu Yangcheon, the target of her protection.

Normally, hovering around and protecting would be the standard way, but.

The reason for going out of her way like this to search for Gu Yangcheon was.

‘Because at night it’s training, didn’t she say not to bother him?’

It was because of the story Gu Yangcheon had directly mentioned.

Gu Yangcheon’s appearance came to mind, boldly telling Moyong Biyeon, who was somewhat of a senior, to stay away at night and not look for him.

What’s strange is that his appearance fit so well, rather than being rude and annoying, that she didn’t feel much emotion.

Moyong Biyeon is also the type not to care about such trivial things, but.

It was indeed a strange feeling.

She thought it was a truly peculiar talent that his rudeness suited him.

At the amusing thought, Moyong Biyeon let out a chuckle.

With a smile, she continued searching the forest.

“Where could our precious young master be… Hmm?”

While looking around like that, around the time she was searching for Gu Yangcheon.

There was a group far away that caught Moyong Biyeon’s eye.

“Oh…”

As soon as she saw that, Moyong Biyeon smiled and threw herself forward.

The distance, which was quite far, was narrowed in an instant by Moyong Biyeon’s steps.

Thump.

“Hello?”

“Yikes!!”

At Moyong Biyeon’s sudden appearance, a woman with dark green hair was startled.

The woman was Poison Phoenix Tang Soyeol, the Poison King’s child.

Seeing this, a strange light flickered in Moyong Biyeon’s eyes.

It wasn’t because of the startled Tang Soyeol.

It was because, unlike Tang Soyeol, the women who were also present showed little sign of surprise.

Rather, as if they had sensed her arrival, they were preparing to rise and pay respects.

Moyong Biyeon had to look at that sight, intrigued.

‘Look at this one.’

Even the Poison King’s child had a cute appearance, not to be outdone anywhere, but.

She couldn’t compare to the two women she was seeing now.

Even Moyong Biyeon was surprised by the beauty of the two people.

One was a woman with bluish hair close to white.

Her sleepy, half-lidded gaze and the strange aura within it were exquisite.

The other had golden-brown hair, and looking into her dazzling golden eyes felt like being sucked in.

Whichever of the two you looked at, they were beauties counted among the best in the Central Plains.

Seeing those two, Moyong Biyeon inwardly nodded.

‘I see.’

Seeing their distinctive appearances, she felt she knew immediately who these two people were.

The white-haired woman must be Sword Dancer, the Sword King, that unpromising fellow’s child.

And the other must be the Sword Venerable’s successor, that old man’s descendant.

‘That means.’

All three people gathered here.

Like her niece, were women chasing after Gu Yangcheon.

‘Ha.’

Seeing this, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Isn’t he blessed with women too much?

He had nothing else to resemble his father with, it seems he resembled this the most.

Moreover, this child named Sword Dancer…

‘She was his fiancée, wasn’t she?’

The fact that they were engaged meant she was the most likely candidate to stick by Gu Yangcheon’s side now.

Recalling that, Moyong Biyeon smiles slightly.

“Hello, pretty ones. Do you know who this older sister is?”

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, Tang Soyeol’s eyes widened as she paid respects.

“A blood relative of the Tang Family, I greet Senior White Lotus Sword…!”

Following, Wi Seora and Namgung Biya also bowed their heads.

“…Namgung Biya…. is.”

“Nice to meet you. Don’t be so stiff, you can comfortably call me eonni.”

They are truly pretty children.

Beyond their outstanding looks, they were brilliant children, enough to remind her of those days.

Especially a woman in love is bound to shine.

In that sense, these ones were already shining brilliantly.

Like stars.

Is that why?

Moyong Biyeon forgot her purpose of finding Gu Yangcheon and felt a small mischievousness welling up.

“I heard you’re friends with our niece’s husband, right?”

Startled.

Was it because of the title that came out of Moyong Biyeon’s mouth?

The bodies of the three people stopped simultaneously.

After confirming that, Moyong Biyeon continued speaking.

“You’re so lucky to be friends with such pretty ones… Please take care of my niece too. She takes after her dad, she’s a bit unlucky, but she’s a good kid.”

“Niece… you mean Moyong Sojeo?”

At Tang Soyeol’s flustered voice, Moyong Biyeon smiles brightly.

“Which Moyong? I’m also a Moyong.”

“Ah, that…”

“It’s a joke. That’s right. My niece.”

“Then… niece’s husband… you mean Young Master Gu Yangcheon…?”

“Huh? Ah, that’s right too. My Yangcheon.”

My Yangcheon.

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, the atmosphere of the three people shook once more.

Within that, Tang Soyeol cleared her throat a few times.

She looked somewhat uncomfortable.

“Anyway, you were surprised I suddenly jumped in, right? Sorry. I came to ask something.”

“…Yes.”

“Did you happen to see where our niece’s husband is? I can’t seem to find him anywhere?”

A chilling atmosphere was felt in her subtle voice.

Moyong Biyeon did not stop speaking, while sensing that atmosphere.

Because she wanted to see how these people would react.

“If you happen to see him, tell him to come to this eonni…”

Just as she continued speaking like that.

“You seem to have misunderstood something.”

“Huh?”

Someone with a clear voice cut into Moyong Biyeon’s words.

At first, she thought it was the Tang child, but the culprit was surprisingly the Namgung child.

Seeing her sleepy eyes and hesitant speech, she had judged her to have a quiet personality.

Unlike when she first saw her, an unexpected aura was felt.

“What do you mean by that?”

“He… is not Senior White Lotus Sword’s… niece’s husband…”

Namgung Biya met Moyong Biyeon’s gaze with her clear blue eyes.

Those eyes looked so deep, even Moyong Biyeon couldn’t fathom them.

‘…Oho.’

Moyong Biyeon had to admire the aura gradually felt from Namgung Biya.

‘Look at this one?’

She was said to be one of the promising successors, but she was a child with a much more profound aura than expected.

Even.

Fighting Spirit (Tugi).

Moyong Biyeon felt Fighting Spirit from Namgung Biya.

She looked the most docile.

Or was she actually the fiercest child?

She was showing Fighting Spirit, as if not letting Moyong Biyeon’s words pass lightly.

‘And there.’

Moyong Biyeon subtly observed the other two.

The girl who was the Sword Venerable’s disciple had a gaze that had sharpened no less than this child’s.

The Tang child, while seeming to observe the atmosphere, showed signs of discomfort.

Seeing those sights, Moyong Biyeon.

‘Cute.’

She could feel fresh amusement rather than thinking these young ones dared to be impudent.

Because she herself had been like this in the past.

Memories overlapped.

Was it with Soi, the current Sword Empress?

Around the time she faced the previous Sword Empress, there was a similar situation once.

Even though she knew she couldn’t win, she drew her sword against the Sword Empress, saying she couldn’t just let this slide.

She didn’t remember well what the Sword Empress said then.

Even if she remembered the words, she wouldn’t be able to imitate them.

If Moyong Biyeon imitated the Sword Empress’s tone, she’d cringe so hard her tongue would sprout thorns.

So Moyong Biyeon wanted to use her method.

“Pretty ones. Seems like you didn’t like what eonni just said?”

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, the three people flinch.

Not just the words, but because they felt Moyong Biyeon’s Fighting Spirit within them.

But. Unlike expected.

“Sorry. I was trying to tease a little, but I guess eonni went too far. I apologize.”

As Moyong Biyeon suddenly apologized, the atmosphere felt like it was softening somewhat.

As a master like White Lotus Sword easily admitted fault and apologized, it wasn’t a situation to say anything more about it.

So, if they wanted, they could have let it pass nicely like this, but unfortunately, Moyong Biyeon didn’t want that.

Seeing the women, Moyong Biyeon smiled broadly and spoke.

“Then, instead of this, shall we do something fun with eonni?”

The moment the three people felt puzzled, wondering what that meant.

Shing.

Moyong Biyeon drew her sword from its sheath.

At that moment, Fighting Spirit erupted from Moyong Biyeon’s body and began to spread throughout the forest.