Chapter 479: The Rotten Thing.

“…Will you be alright?”

Right after I heard everything Tang Jemun-nim was asking me. These were the words I uttered.

Asking if they would truly be alright.

It was the kind of situation that left me no choice but to ask.

Because no matter how I heard it, it was a truly difficult matter to believe came from Tang Jemun-nim’s lips.

Despite my doubts, Tang Jemun-nim merely maintained her sorrowful gaze, making no move to retract her words.

-Will it be possible?

“…”

In response to Tang Jemun-nim’s question, I lightly pinched my lips with my thumb. Possible?

‘I don’t know.’

Honestly, it was too much to give a definite answer.

Because figuring out how to handle this without any harm coming to me was a difficult part.

However.

‘Hmm.’

Even if I agonize over it like this, frankly speaking, my answer is already decided.

“It doesn’t seem like a problem we can run away from by saying no.”

-….

At my answer, Tang Jemun-nim smiles bitterly. It must be because I hit the mark.

She knew I wouldn’t be able to refuse.

So why bother.

‘She must have brought up the matter concerning Tang Soyeol.’

She probably thought that if it involved her, I wouldn’t be able to refuse. And that…

‘Is something I can’t deny.’

It was also something I couldn’t possibly deny.

“For now, I will try.”

Whether it works out or not, I’ll give it a try. This is the extent of the answer I can give right now.

Fortunately, Tang Jemun-nim seemed to find my answer acceptable, nodding slightly.

-Thank you. Hu-in.

“There’s no need for thanks. After all….”

It feels like I’m working for compensation, so I don’t need the gratitude.

Moreover, she herself seemed quite troubled by this issue.

‘I’m not exactly feeling great about this either.’

To be precise, far from feeling good, this is a damn shitty situation.

‘The problem is how to deal with the Poison King.’

As it concerns the Tang family, I have no idea how to approach the Poison King.

Furthermore, this assumes the Poison King isn’t involved in this matter.

No matter how rotten the Poison King is.

I don’t wish for him to be involved in something like this.

‘It concerns his daughter. I have to hope he isn’t.’

If, against all odds, the Poison King is involved.

Tuduk.

I think, slightly cracking my neck.

‘I’ll have to kill him.’

A chill runs down my spine. I made the decision internally.

If the Poison King becomes a nuisance, I’ll kill him.

I made up my mind. As I was steeling myself like that.

-Hu-in.

Tang Jemun-nim calls me.

“Yes. Senior-nim.”

-Should there be any matters you might be curious about. I have already passed them on to Shincheol.

“What?”

At those words, my eyes widened.

‘Things I’d be curious about?’

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what they were.

It was because there were so many, I wondered what exactly she had told him.

‘Is that true? Noyah.’

I urgently call out to Noyah in my mind, but…

[Hmph.]

Noyah, perhaps still holding a grudge from our earlier argument, reacted quite strangely.

…Honestly, what a narrow-minded old man.

In the meantime, the fact that he didn’t deny it at least suggested he had heard something.

Just as I was wondering what information she had relayed.

-Also….

Tang Jemun-nim continued, as if she hadn’t finished speaking.

-I’ve prepared a small gift for Hu-in.

“A gift… you say?”

-Yes. A gift.

I wonder what she prepared.

Whatever it was, I had no memory of receiving a proper gift when someone offered one, so I felt quite uneasy.

Whether she sensed my anxiety or not, Tang Jemun-nim continued.

-Originally…. It should have been given to Shincheol… or perhaps another child, but.

Tang Jemun-nim said, smiling.

-For now, it seems right for you to receive it. She would want this too.

“…Her?”

The moment I asked, Tang Jemun-nim’s hand reached towards me.

Swoosh.

“…!?”

Tang Jemun-nim’s translucent fingertips pierced through my chest.

It was a sudden attack.

There was no pain.

There wasn’t even a sensation of entry.

Could it be because of my ethereal body?

“Seon-.”

I tried to ask Tang Jemun-nim what this action meant, but…

-On the path you tread.

I hope there is always a blessing.

Tang Jemun-nim simply cut me off with a smile.

Then.

Kwoong-!

“…!”

With the sensation of my body flipping over abruptly, I lost consciousness.

******************

Gu Yangcheon’s unconscious body went limp and collapsed.

Just before hitting the ground.

Tuk-!

Keureung.

A small Ya-ryong (伢龍 – Fanged Dragon) threw itself forward, catching Gu Yangcheon.

Confirming this, Tang Jemun-nim took a step back.

And immediately examined her hands.

Sseuuu….

Her translucent hands had become even fainter.

This was evidence that her end was approaching.

Tang Jemun-nim knew this clearly, yet she did not grieve.

She simply accepted it.

It had been too long a life to dwell on lingering attachments, and if she could achieve even a fraction of what she desired, she thought that would be enough.

However.

-Shincheol.

There remained a small regret for it.

You are there, aren’t you.

[…What is it.]

At Tang Jemun-nim’s call, the somewhat sullen voice of an old man could be heard.

At that rather insignificant-sounding voice, Tang Jemun-nim let out a chuckle.

-Are you still sulking?

[Sulking… Who says I’m sulking. Do I seem like such a narrow-minded person?]

Tang Jemun-nim couldn’t bring herself to say no.

-Please stop being angry.

It wasn’t meant that way.

[I’m telling you, I’m fine?

I don’t even remember what was said….]

-A narrow-minded, clueless pity-seeker.

Isn’t it because of that?

[…]

Gu Yangcheon’s body trembled slightly at Tang Jemun-nim’s words.

It seemed Shincheol, who was there, had reacted.

[…Who… who….]

-I understand.

Just before Shincheol could erupt in anger, Tang Jemun-nim cut him off.

-That you didn’t notice my feelings or me.

And that you ultimately let Lady Moyong go.

I understand it all.

[…]

-Shincheol, you were always a person for whom conviction was most important.

Having a narrow perspective or lacking awareness.

From the perspective of a woman who loved him, it was indeed frustrating and hateful, but…

If one knew where Shincheol’s gaze was fixed during that process, they couldn’t possibly hold such feelings.

-Because you are a hero.

A warrior who only saw the goal of saving the world.

The conviction of a hero who vowed to plant radiant plum trees on peaceful land.

Shincheol was a person who lived only looking towards that.

Tang Jemun-nim knew that even if he had noticed a woman, he wouldn’t have taken her in.

If I had borrowed the name Tang Jehui and approached him in my original body, would the outcome have been different?

No, Tang Jemun-nim was certain.

Shincheol would ultimately have chosen nothing.

Therefore, approaching him briefly beside him in my original body.

Or, being beside him in a male body.

Those were the only choices Tang Jemun-nim could make.

-I wanted to tell you. But.

Even knowing that, I always wanted to speak.

That I was a woman.

Such a beautiful woman.

And.

That I love you.

I wanted to open my mouth and chirp, to ask him to hold me, touch me, put me to sleep, but…

Tang Jemun-nim endured.

She had to endure.

She longed to see Shincheol treat her that way, and she craved it, but…

-I endured.

Because that’s the kind of person you are.

It was precisely because he was that kind of Shincheol that I loved him.

Because even with his rough speech, he was someone who would give his life without hesitation to protect those around him.

Because if a situation demanded death, he was the one who would step forward first.

More than a life as an ordinary person.

Because Shincheol chose the conviction and desire to save the world.

Tang Jemun-nim could love him.

-So it’s okay.

She smiled.

-Don’t feel guilty.

I’m okay.

[…Jemun.]

Hearing Shincheol’s voice, Tang Jemun-nim nodded.

This is the end. I could feel it for sure.

She looked down at her feet.

Her translucent body was gradually disappearing from there.

Watching this, Tang Jemun-nim closed her eyes.

-I think I should go on ahead.

She said calmly.

-Will other friends be waiting for me?

[…They will be. Every last one of them is a damn bastard, but they aren’t the type to abandon anyone.]

-That’s right.

Tang Jemun-nim nodded at Shincheol’s light remark.

-Shincheol.

[…Yeah.]

She called him, though there was no need, and paused for a moment.

At first, she intended to say ‘I love you,’ but she felt she couldn’t.

That was…

Not something to say right now.

If not that, then what should she say now?

She pondered deeply.

Although she pondered quite deeply, there was only one thing Tang Jemun-nim wanted to say.

Something she had wished for since long ago. Much longer ago.

The one thing she had dreamed of while enduring here for all this time.

The one thing she had hoped he would do, just once.

Tang Jemun-nim uttered it.

-…Could you… hold me, just once?

It was said with great caution.

If she had her way, she would have said how lonely she had been, how much she missed him, and asked if he could just hold her, but…

Funnily enough, those words wouldn’t come out.

She could only ask if he could do it.

-Ah….

It was just something I said….

As Tang Jemun-nim was about to take it back, glancing nervously,

Seuuk.

-…!

A strange sensation was felt.

The feeling of someone embracing her and stroking her back.

Sensing the touch, Tang Jemun-nim opened her eyes, but there was nothing in front of her.

Shincheol was inside Gu Yangcheon’s body, so he shouldn’t have appeared visually.

Putting that anomaly aside.

[You worked hard.]

-….

At the voice that reached her ears, Tang Jemun-nim closed her eyes again.

She felt as if tears might flow if she didn’t.

[Go on ahead and wait for me.]

-…Shincheol?

[It might take a little longer. This wretched fellow isn’t exactly a great man, so it will take some time.]

-….

[So, just a little. Wait just a little longer. We can share the words we couldn’t say there.]

Seureuk.

The hand stroking her back changed to stroking her hair.

[You worked hard….]

-…Yes.

Just a few simple words.

For some reason, hearing them made Tang Jemun-nim feel at ease.

Even though they were just words.

That was also the strength this man possessed.

Because he was a man who kept his word by any means necessary, Tang Jemun-nim could trust him.

She uttered no further words.

Saaaa….

Tang Jemun-nim scattered completely like that, disappearing into the air.

The fragments scattering from her body were glowing.

She disappeared gracefully, like butterflies flying through the air.

[…]

After Tang Jemun-nim departed.

Inside the Bigo An, only the shallow breaths of the unconscious Gu Yangcheon remained.

[…Ah.]

There, an old man held his breath.

He tried his best not to make any sound.

And so, the silence continued until Gu Yangcheon woke up.

******************

Beon-tteuk-!

My eyes opened automatically due to a strange sensation.

When I finally regained consciousness, the first thing I realized was that I was underwater.

“Ugh…?”

How startling it was to suddenly open my eyes underwater.

I was sure I was in the Bigo An, but how did I lose consciousness?

What about Tang Jemun-nim?

And where is this place?

I immediately recalled what happened before I lost consciousness.

The moment Tang Jemun-nim pierced through my chest with her hand.

‘And then I lost consciousness?’

That’s what happened, but when I opened my eyes, I was here.

I rolled my eyes around, surveying my surroundings.

Why am I suddenly underwater?

‘Wait, if it’s underwater…’

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought that occurred to me.

Because I remembered where I had gone before entering the Bigo An.

Poison Spring Lake.

The Tang family’s treasured artifact, a foul lake composed of poisonous substances.

It seems this is indeed that place.

‘Damn it…!’

As soon as I was sure, I tried to move my body.

Because I needed to get out of the lake immediately.

Just as I was trying to gather my energy to get out of the water.

Swiiiiiik-!

“…!”

Suddenly, vibrations began to be felt in the water, and then.

Suuuuuuk-!

‘What!?’

Waves started surging from all directions, plunging towards me.

That wasn’t all.

Woo-oong-!

The Demonic Heaven Absorption technique, which I hadn’t even cast, activated on its own.

Could this be the problem?

The surging waves changed.

‘W-what’s happening?’

As they entered my body, they transformed into energy.

No, it felt subtle, not quite like energy.

Because it wasn’t like being converted into Qi.

Rather than entering my heart, which had started acting as a Dantian, it felt like it passed through my entire body.

It was a sensation that permeated not just the acupoints, but even the muscles.

It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was an unknown sensation.

Kwaaaaaaah-!

The rapidly absorbed energies seeped into my body before I could even grasp the situation.

By the time I barely managed to regain my senses.

“Ptooey….”

All the water that had formed the lake was gone, leaving only an empty pit.

Spitting out the water remaining in my mouth, I surveyed the surroundings.

There was truly no moisture left.

“…Ah, fuck.”

Seeing this, I spat out a rough curse.

“I’m screwed.”

The Poison Spring Lake, treated as a treasured artifact, had disappeared.

More accurately, I had consumed all the water.

“No….”

How did things turn out like this?

How did this body end up swallowing even the lake water?

‘…Surely this isn’t the gift?’

Tang Jemun-nim’s words about giving a gift.

It couldn’t be this, could it…?

It had to not be.

If that really was the case.

‘This isn’t a gift, it’s a rip-off.’

How am I supposed to handle the situation with something like this?

Seriously, were all the people from previous generations just thugs?

Just as I was grinding my teeth, feeling like I’d been screwed over until the very end.

Woong.

“…Hmm?”

Something surfaced in my mind.

It wasn’t my memory.

This is…?

‘…Seems like a verse?’

The words surfacing on their own, this definitely seemed like a verse for using martial arts.

‘What the…’

While puzzled by the verse that suddenly appeared in my mind.

My body automatically moved its energy according to the verse.

At that moment.

Udududuk-!

“Gulp…?!”

Suddenly, intense pain was felt throughout my body.

I let out a groan from the dizzying pain.

Udududek-!

The pain raged on, as if trying to dominate my body.

‘…What is this now.’

And it wasn’t just pain.

Soon, a difference could be felt.

Seeeeee.

“…!”

My field of vision slowly lowered.

Along with it, I felt my body begin to shrink.

“…This…?”

My hands trembled from the unexpected sensation.

Checking my hands made it even clearer.

My body, rebuilt and changed, growing larger.

My arms, which had thickened as a result, had become slender.

Just like my old form.

My height had also decreased.

“…”

I rolled my eyes, assessing the situation that had unfolded.

My mind automatically provided the answer as to why this situation had occurred.

It was a phenomenon I had seen somewhere before.

It hadn’t even been a day, so I couldn’t possibly forget.

This is…

‘Qi Body Transformation Technique (氣體變易術)?’

The power Tang Jemun-nim used, not only changing bodies but even gender.

I was using it.

I didn’t understand the principle.

Even knowing the verse, one shouldn’t be able to use martial arts like this.

My body simply reacted because I wanted it to.

Seeing this, I realized.

‘Is this the gift?’

Could this be the gift Tang Jemun-nim mentioned?

Thinking so, my head nodded involuntarily.

‘As expected.’

It’s certain.

“I always believed. Madam.”

I thought she would give me an amazing gift.

Not betraying that expectation, Tang Jemun-nim bestowed the gift upon me.

It was good that I believed without a shred of doubt.

Tang Jemun-nim is a god.

“Mhmm mhmm.”

As I was nodding so earnestly.

Geureu….

From somewhere, a sound like a pathetic cry was heard.

I ignored it lightly.

It didn’t matter how Jeoksusa saw it.

‘…Tang Jemun-nim is a god.’

To me, Tang Jemun-nim was religion itself.

It couldn’t be helped.

If all she had given me was the Qi Body Transformation Technique, I wouldn’t have reacted this much, but…

The words lingering in my mind weren’t ‘just’ that.

Something far more important was firmly lodged in my mind, and recalling it instantly quelled my worries.

‘With this…. It should be a bit easier to handle things.’

The answer appeared, making my previous worry about how to overcome this complicated situation pointless.

I smiled, recalling this.

The reason I was happy was none other than this.

In my mind right now, along with the verse for the Qi Body Transformation Technique.

The renowned medicine lost by the Tang family.

The manufacturing method for the Poison Heaven Pill was also included.