Chapter 520: Give it to me just once.

Four teacups were placed on the table.

Putting aside the tea, which I didn’t even know when it was brewed and brought, I could only stare straight ahead with wide, astonished eyes.

“Where are you planning to go…?”

What did I just hear? Still holding the teacup I was about to drink from, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

Where…? Where did she just say she was going?

“The North Sea? Did you just say the North Sea?”

“Yeah.”

I asked again, unable to believe it, but the answer was the same this time.

So, I decided to ask something else first.

“…Why there?”

“…”

“Do you even know where that place is?”

If the North Sea Namgung Bi-ah mentioned is the place I know,

‘…That would be the Outer Martial World (塞外武林)?’

A region outside the Central Plains where I am now.

I heard they participated in the Blood Calamity caused by the Blood Demon.

It’s a place that didn’t even participate in the war when the Heavenly Demon descended and caused a Blood Calamity.

And if what Namgung Bi-ah is talking about now is the North Sea,

‘…The place where the Ice Palace (氷宮) is.’

It must surely mean the region ruled by the North Sea Ice Palace.

I heard it’s a region where it snows year-round and is filled with deadly cold.

The reason for that is probably…

‘…That was also the work of a Rank-100 Demon, wasn’t it?’

According to records, that’s what it said.

I wonder if such a vast land could become like that because of just one demon,

‘…But seeing as it created a river and covered the entire forest in fog, it seems possible.’

Thinking about the messes our ancestors made, I couldn’t just say it wasn’t possible.

[Messes, you brat! Do you know how much I struggled?!]

I heard one of the guys who made those messes get indignant, but I ignored him.

Anyway, coming back to the point.

The Outer Martial World prohibits the entry of outsiders, so it’s a place that even the Martial Alliance or the clans of prestigious families cannot easily go to.

Especially the North Sea.

‘And that’s similar for the Ice Palace side, too.’

In the past, around the time the previous Ice Palace Master visited the Central Plains.

Right after he battled the Sword Saint and turned the Xi’an area into ruins, the North Sea has been banned from setting foot in the Central Plains.

This means…

Both sides are in a state where they cannot travel back and forth through legitimate means.

‘But she wants to go to the North Sea.’

No matter how I think about it, it’s a sudden and strange statement.

It’s an even stranger statement coming from Namgung Bi-ah’s mouth.

So, I turned my gaze from Namgung Bi-ah aside.

“What is this?”

“Ahem…”

Someone let out a cough at my words, which were spoken unintentionally with emotion.

He was the only man among the three who had entered my quarters before me.

“Hey, you’re going to kill someone with those eyes… Try opening them a little more gently.”

The man, who kept coughing awkwardly, resembled Namgung Bi-ah somewhat.

It couldn’t be helped; he was a direct descendant of the Namgung family, sharing the same bloodline.

“I asked what it was.”

As I asked again, frowning, the man, Wudang Guai Xian, slowly swallowed a mouthful of tea.

The guy who suddenly threw down the Brain Eater and disappeared.

To suddenly show up in my quarters a few days later, how should I take this?

‘Honestly, if it were just the matters above, I wouldn’t mind.’

Yeah, it doesn’t really matter.

It’s not like there’s anything to steal.

It’s something I could overlook as a trivial matter, but…

The reason I’m upset is none other than this.

“Take them as a disciple? Who is taking whom?”

The issue was the topic Guai Xian brought up the moment he saw me.

As I said that, grinding my teeth, Wudang Guai Xian quickly gestured.

“Young Master, please calm down first…”

“Calm down?”

Calm down my ass.

I’m barely holding myself back from exploding right now, and you tell me to calm down?

If it were up to me, I’d flip the table right now, but I endured it, biting my lip.

Hoo.

A sigh escaped naturally.

Was it my imagination, or did the breath I just exhaled seem to contain heat?

Hiding my grinding teeth, I looked at Guai Xian and said.

“…Guai Xian-nim, you are a figure of Wudang, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. I am a person of Wudang.”

Things like being disowned by Wudang, or whether that person is truly a Taoist priest,

Guai Xian heard all sorts of things, but he was definitely the disciple of the current Wudang Sect Leader, Wudang Sword Saint.

If that’s the case,

“Why would Wudang take that person as a disciple?”

“Hmm…”

At my words, Guai Xian rolled his eyes around and looked at me before speaking.

“First, it seems there’s a misunderstanding in what you heard, so I’ll correct it. Wudang doesn’t want that child.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s ‘I’ who wants them, not Wudang. This has nothing to do with Wudang’s intentions.”

At Guai Xian’s words, my already furrowed brow furrowed even more.

It was no different from a ridiculous wordplay.

Even so, what difference would it make?

I shifted my gaze and looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t offering any particular denial to Guai Xian’s words.

Does that mean this conversation was already pre-arranged?

‘Ha.’

Why would Guai Xian suddenly want Namgung Bi-ah?

I couldn’t understand.

Although she is a blood relative of the Namgung family like Guai Xian, there was a major problem preventing it.

‘She’s already reached the pinnacle with her unique martial art.’

The fact that Namgung Bi-ah had already reached the pinnacle through the Namgung family’s internal energy cultivation.

Becoming Wudang Guai Xian’s disciple means…

It’s no different from abandoning all these realizations and learning martial arts anew.

‘…That’s crazy. That is.’

It was the kind of act only an old man obsessed with martial arts would do.

[Calling my master a crazy person.]

‘That old man is indeed a crazy person.’

As for Pae-jon, that guy is exactly the kind of person you’d call obsessed with martial arts, so let’s leave him be,

Namgung Bi-ah made such a choice?

I absolutely couldn’t believe it.

“I know what you’re worried about, but I have no intention of making her abandon all her martial arts to learn anew.”

Guai Xian seemed to have figured out my concerns as well.

He continued his explanation.

“…What do you mean by that?”

Not abandoning all her martial arts, but taking her as a disciple? It made even less sense.

Then what could it mean?

‘Unless it’s a case like mine.’

A case where it’s not a problem to incorporate other internal energy cultivations into one’s body, like me.

Otherwise, such a situation could be considered bizarre.

‘No way.’

A sudden thought struck me, and I glared at Namgung Bi-ah.

Surely, she isn’t thinking of incorporating other internal energy cultivations into her body, is she?

‘That can’t happen.’

If so, I had to stop her, even by force.

Just as I was about to ask if that was the case,

I thought perhaps this was the feeling people had when they looked at me in the past.

‘…’

Recalling how Pae-jon and Father used to treat me angrily, a tiny bit of guilt seeped into me.

I tried hard to ignore it.

“It’s not like I’m going to make her learn other internal energy cultivations… or anything like that.”

At Guai Xian’s words, I swallowed dryly.

I haven’t said a word, but how has he known since earlier?

“I said I’d take her as a disciple… though it sounds like a grand statement. It’s not that big of a deal. As you know, Young Master, I already have one disciple.”

“…Yes.”

I thought of that brat Woo Hyuk, who must be sleeping somewhere right now.

“It’s already hard enough to teach just that one, so it’s not exactly a grand relationship.”

“Then, what are you planning to teach?”

“Sword (劍). I don’t know much that’s grand. I was just thinking of teaching my niece the sword.”

“…The sword?”

Does he mean swordsmanship?

What kind of swordsmanship…

“…!”

As I was trying to figure it out, it suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘…This old man. The sword he’s talking about, could it be…’

I quickly turned around and looked at the drawer.

It was where I had shoved the Brain Eater that was screaming so loudly.

Up until now, Guai Xian had been holding the Brain Eater.

Inside the Brain Eater was something presumed to be Namgung Myung,

Shin Noya said he wasn’t Namgung Myung, but his tone still left a lingering unease.

That means…

‘…The Brain Eater knew that the Namgung family’s swordsmanship had declined, didn’t it?’

If Namgung Myung inside there knew this,

And if he tried to fix it through Wudang Guai Xian?

‘Could the sword he’s talking about now possibly be…’

Is he trying to teach the Namgung family’s swordsmanship?

Does that mean Guai Xian even knows the forgotten Namgung family sword?

As all sorts of thoughts swirled together,

“It seems you know something too, Young Master. Is this the story of the person contained within you?”

“…”

Guai Xian’s words reached me.

Guai Xian must also suspect that I harbor something within my body, just like himself.

Sensing that, I asked Guai Xian again.

“…Does what Guai Xian-nim just said mean, as I suspect, that you intend to teach the Namgung family’s sword?”

“That’s right.”

“Ha…”

Seeing Guai Xian nod, I let out a breath.

“How on earth do you know that?”

“Hm? Is it strange that I know? I am, after all, a person of the Namgung family.”

“No, that’s not the issue here.”

It’s a swordsmanship that has already disappeared and degenerated.

Even I couldn’t have taught it to the Sword King without Shin Noya’s help.

How does Namgung Hyung know about it?

The answer to that is…

“What’s the problem? I have a crazy person attached to me who’s trying to teach this somehow.”

Guai Xian said so, and took something out from his inner pocket to show me.

It was the Brain Eater. Seeing it, I narrowed my eyes.

‘Did he take it from the drawer?’

Without permission when I wasn’t here?

Thinking this was a bit over the line, I was about to say something,

Guai Xian casually continued speaking.

“I apologize for taking this without permission. Honestly, I wanted to keep it embedded as is, but this guy was making such a racket…”

Seeing Guai Xian apologize as if he were truly sorry, I decided to let it slide for now.

Because I knew what Namgung Myung’s racket was about.

“…”

“As for the swordsmanship, it’s not like I wanted to learn it. I learned it because I had to.”

I think I vaguely understand the situation.

I don’t know why Guai Xian, while settling in Wudang’s territory, learned swords separately according to Namgung Myung’s will,

‘Even so.’

That doesn’t explain everything.

“Why do we have to go all the way to the North Sea to learn it?”

Making someone go all the way to the distant North Sea to learn the Namgung family’s sword.

The reason for that still remained unexplained.

“Wouldn’t I have no reason to tell you Young Master about that?”

“…What did you say?”

At Guai Xian’s words, irritation surged within me involuntarily.

However.

“It’s because of my personal matters, and my niece has accepted it. I don’t think this is something for you, Young Master, to interfere with any further.”

“…”

I had no way to refute his words.

Because it was the truth.

The justification of being a fiancé, while seeming strong, is weak.

In reality, it’s something that can be cut off at any time, so I couldn’t use it.

I repeatedly took deep breaths inwardly, forcing myself to bring up another topic.

“At the very least. It’s not a place you can just go to as you please, is it?”

“There are ways for all of that. My older sister will resolve it.”

Guai Xian said with a smile at my question.

“Older sister…?”

“…Baek Ryeon Geom?”

It was Baek Ryeon Geom, standing beside me.

“Baek Ryeon Geom will help them go to the North Sea?”

Hearing this, Baek Ryeon Geom…

“No!”

BANG-! She shouted, slamming the table with both fists.

“Help resolve it? What help?! You crazy bastard!”

“Come on, you could help a little.”

“What are you talking about! What power do I have to do that! Is this guy a psycho…?”

“You do. Sister, you definitely do.”

As if not caring about Baek Ryeon Geom’s anger, Guai Xian just smiled brightly.

“Wow… I’m going crazy…”

Baek Ryeon Geom blushed as if wronged, but…

I could see something strange there.

‘Something.’

There is something.

Coupled with Guai Xian speaking so confidently, I could subtly tell from Baek Ryeon Geom’s reaction.

That she was hiding something.

‘…Is there really a way?’

A way to go to the North Sea.

Does Baek Ryeon Geom really have it?

‘No, why the North Sea, the North Sea.’

As the conversation progressed, my head started to ache.

Why would she want to go to a land she doesn’t even know?

What does she plan to do there?

How can a kid who can’t even find her way properly plan to do anything in a cold, distant land and want to go there?

‘I can’t let her go. Absolutely not.’

I couldn’t let her go.

‘It’s not like I’m in a situation where I can go with her.’

There’s a lot of work to do here.

It’s not a situation where I can move around carelessly.

Moreover, how long would it take?

‘From here to the North Sea, it’s too far.’

It’s not the distance of Shanxi and Sichuan.

Just traveling back and forth takes a long time.

Knowing that, I was trying to think of any excuse to refuse,

“…Let me go.”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah’s voice was heard.

“You…”

“…I have to go… Let me go…”

Her eyes as she spoke were determined.

It was the first time.

Namgung Bi-ah had been this determined.

“No. Where do you think you’re going?”

“…I have to go…”

“Why?”

“Because Uncle… is going.”

Namgung Bi-ah said, looking at Guai Xian.

Uncle, my ass…

It’s true, but it somehow made me angry.

“…I… have to go… and… learn the sword.”

I don’t know.

I really don’t know.

Why is Namgung Bi-ah so obsessed with the sword?

What is it about it?

Gradually, an inexplicable anger started to rise to the top of my head.

“That way. I can protect you.”

“…”

At the words Namgung Bi-ah uttered afterward, I felt all that heat subside.

“What did you just say…?”

“No matter… how hard I try. Right now… I can’t… So I have to go.”

“You right now…”

“This is… the work I have to do…”

I tried to speak, but my mouth kept closing.

It was ridiculous.

The intention behind following someone to the North Sea to learn the sword is that?

“Who is going to protect whom?”

To protect me.

At the absurd words, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah, but her eyes were still determined.

Her blue eyes, once only dark, had somehow become clear.

Her sparkling pupils looked directly at me.

I felt like I might involuntarily avoid her gaze.

I couldn’t do that, so I forced myself to endure and met her eyes.

This is annoying.

All of this situation.

With so much work to do and time being so scarce,

It felt like someone was trying to take away one of my pillars, and that made me angry.

“Young Master, for now, let’s talk a bit more…”

“Could you all please leave for a moment…?”

“Hm?”

“It won’t take long. I have something to think about.”

“Hmm… Alright.”

Although it was a somewhat impolite action, Guai Xian nodded, respecting my wish.

Guai Xian stood up and started to leave.

“Guai Xian.”

I stopped Guai Xian again.

When Guai Xian looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Could you lend me that for a moment?”

“What?”

At my words, Guai Xian’s eyes widened.

What I asked to borrow right now was none other than the Brain Eater.

“I need it while I think.”

As I reached out as if to take it, Guai Xian momentarily erased his surprise and handed the Brain Eater to me.

Swish.

“…Ho ho.”

Seeing the Brain Eater accepted so casually, Guai Xian let out a hollow laugh.

It was because there was no resistance this time either.

“I’ll… return it soon…”

“If you like it, keep it. That would be better.”

As if he had absolutely no lingering attachment, Guai Xian left.

I asked Baek Ryeon Geom and Namgung Bi-ah to leave as well.

With everyone gone, the room became silent.

Woong.

After spreading my internal energy throughout the room, I looked at the Brain Eater and said.

“…Now, tell me.”

Unable to hide it any longer, my voice was filled with annoyance.

It couldn’t be helped.

It was a situation I couldn’t possibly not know.

“What kind of shitty situation is this?”

That Namgung Myung’s intentions were clearly involved in this situation.