Chapter 1119: Scorched World.

“…….”

I had to lose my words, looking at the scene unfolding before me. What kind of situation was this?

“Kuhup…….”

Mi Hyoran-nim tried to cough to clear her throat after spotting me, but it seemed she barely managed to hold it in, her mouth stuffed with something.

“Oh. What brings you here?”

Namgung Hyung-nim seemed completely unfazed. He greeted me, chopsticks in hand.

Hyun So-yeon-ssi was also carrying food, staring intently at me.

“You’re here?”

She greeted me with utmost composure.

“……Ah, yes.”

What is this situation? I answered, but I didn’t understand. Why were these people gathered here?

And in Namgung Hyung-nim’s quarters, no less.

“Would you like to sit? We’ve made quite a bit.”

“…….”

I casually took a seat at Hyun So-yeon-ssi’s words. Then, I saw Mi Hyoran-nim in front of me. She was frantically chewing the food in her mouth, her eyes puffy.

Looking at her eyes, I could sense traces that she had been crying a little.

“So. Why did you come?”

Namgung Hyung-nim asked.

“……I just had something I needed to do.”

“With whom? Me?”

“Something like that.”

I decided to just go with that.

“You wouldn’t have come to this rundown old place just to get a free meal… So, what business do you have with me?”

“I came because I had something to say. But I forgot.”

“What?”

Namgung Hyung-nim stared at me with disbelief. As I ignored his gaze.

Thump.

Food was placed in front of me. Hyun So-yeon-ssi had brought it. Seeing that, I immediately asked her.

“……What are you doing here?”

“Yes?”

At my question, Hyun So-yeon-ssi tilted her head.

“Can’t you tell? I’m cooking.”

“…….”

Who asks that?

I mean, why are you cooking…?

Hyun So-yeon-ssi chuckled as if she knew the meaning behind my words anyway, adding,

“What else? It’s for our young master.”

Young master… Does she mean Namgung Hyung-nim?

“Sigh… If only I hadn’t lost the bet.”

Hyun So-yeon-ssi sighed. A bet? Just hearing the word suggested she must have made some bet with Namgung Hyung-nim.

So that’s why she was cooking in his quarters at this hour.

‘……Did his quarters even have a place for that?’

I wondered if Namgung Hyung-nim’s quarters had such a thing. They must have, since she was cooking.

Recalling that, I glanced. I looked at Mi Hyoran-nim. She was still ignoring my gaze, diligently eating her meal.

“…….”

As I was staring intently at her, Hyun So-yeon-ssi spoke to me.

“I brought her because she was sobbing nearby. Seeing her, it looked like something had happened, so I figured I should at least feed her.”

“Who… Gulp.”

Mi Hyoran-nim, who was speaking, faltered. She quickly swallowed everything she was chewing and said to Hyun So-yeon-ssi with an angry face,

“Who was crying?”

“Mi So-jeo. You know you’re not convincing anyone saying that with those eyes, right?”

“…….”

At those words, Mi Hyoran-nim quickly rubbed her eyes.

“This is… something got into my eyes.”

“Just what kind of giant thing could get in there to make them look like that?”

Hyun So-yeon-ssi said, laughing. Mi Hyoran-nim seemed to realize how ridiculous her excuse sounded, and shut her mouth tightly again.

‘How novel.’

I thought to myself, watching her.

Mi Hyoran-nim crying. The Madam Mi I knew later in life was hardly the type to cry.

Ah, I did see her choked up once.

‘Was it in my past life?’

Right after the war with Kunlun? After massacring a large number of the orthodox sect members of the time. It was just as I was about to consolidate the Demonic Cult forces for the next operation.

That was when I encountered the orthodox sects’ forces again. At that time, the Baekhwashang Trading Company’s faction was involved.

That was the time. When I met Madam Mi.

‘Back then.’

I still remember her expression.

The face she made frowning at me. And the tears welling up in her eyes.

‘What did she say?’

Madam Mi had said something when she saw me.

However, I couldn’t remember because I didn’t have the time to listen to her words.

Or perhaps. Maybe I just didn’t want to remember.

Anyway.

Mi Hyoran-nim’s current expression looks the same as Madam Mi’s back then.

‘…….’

As I recalled that, I was just watching her.

Thump.

Mi Hyoran-nim seemed to have finished her food, and suddenly stood up.

“……Thank you. I’ll pay you back later.”

“Whoa there. Pay me back? No need for that-“

“Then, I’m leaving.”

“Ah… Uh. Yes.”

Before Namgung Hyung-nim could finish speaking, Mi Hyoran-nim moved. She opened the door and left, and a brief silence fell.

Just as I was wondering what to do next.

“What are you doing?”

Hyun So-yeon-ssi asked.

“Huh?”

What am I doing? As I asked with a puzzled expression, Hyun So-yeon-ssi pointed outside with her chin.

“You came to pick her up, didn’t you? Hurry and follow her out.”

“…….”

“Didn’t you?”

I chuckled awkwardly, feeling caught. How did she know?

Instead of answering, I stood up. And I looked at the food laid out before me.

“What a shame I can’t eat the food?”

At my words about what a shame it was that I couldn’t eat the food she’d gone to the trouble of making, Hyun So-yeon-ssi shook her head.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t brought for you, Young Master Baek, anyway.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, it doesn’t matter since there’s a glutton over there.”

“…….”

Turning my gaze at her words, I saw Namgung Hyung-nim indulging in the food like a madman.

Ah, I see.

It really would be fine.

Nodding and giving a brief bow, I stepped out the door without hesitation.

It was already nearing night. Where had Mi Hyoran-nim, who disappeared earlier, gone? Finding her wasn’t that difficult.

‘There she is.’

Mi Hyoran-nim was far from skilled in martial arts. She couldn’t have gone far even if she tried. Recalling that, I moved and found her quickly.

A small pond set up in the Namgung family estate. Mi Hyoran-nim was crouching there.

I saw her small, hunched back.

Confirming that, I stopped my steps.

The distance was about twenty paces. I watched silently, suppressing my presence.

“…….”

I had come, but what was I trying to do here?

‘Exactly.’

What did I want to do? Did I want to comfort Mi Hyoran-nim? Suddenly, I wasn’t sure.

So, while I was pondering.

Crackle.

‘Huh?’

I sensed someone’s presence a short distance away. Narrowing my eyes, I looked and saw a familiar face.

‘Huh?’

A young man with white hair and blue eyes.

It was Namgung Jin-gun. He was slowly approaching Mi Hyoran-nim, his face filled with trembling.

Just then.

“……What is it?”

Mi Hyoran-nim spoke without turning around. Only then did Namgung Jin-gun falter.

Surprisingly, Mi Hyoran-nim seemed aware that Namgung Jin-gun was approaching.

“Ah…….”

Namgung Jin-gun spoke with a flustered expression.

“W-well… I happened to be taking a walk and saw you, so I wondered if something was wrong. I came to see if you were alright.”

“…….”

At his words, Mi Hyoran-nim glanced slightly at Namgung Jin-gun. At that moment.

“……Did you cry? Mi So-jeo, did you cry?”

Seeing Mi Hyoran-nim’s swollen eyes, Namgung Jin-gun scowled deeply.

“I didn’t cry.”

“Who? Who made you cry? Perhaps, Gu Cheol-un, that damned bastard?”

Hearing his own father called a damned bastard, the son listening felt a surge of irritation.

“Who are you calling a damned bastard? Don’t speak so carelessly.”

Mi Hyoran-nim warned Namgung Jin-gun with a cold gaze. Seeing that, Namgung Jin-gun flinched.

“Ah… well…”

“Isn’t Young Master Gu your senior, Young Master Namgung? Show some respect. Don’t be rude.”

Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, Mi Hyoran-nim abruptly stood up. She looked like she had no reason to talk any further.

As she was about to walk away.

“Mi So-jeo. Just wait a moment…!”

Namgung Jin-gun approached Mi Hyoran-nim and grabbed her wrist.

That bastard?

Seeing that, veins popped on my temples. I felt like ripping his arm off.

Thwack-!

As soon as Namgung Jin-gun grabbed her, Mi Hyoran-nim shook her hand off. Her face also looked incredibly cold.

“What do you think you’re doing? Why are you touching me so carelessly?”

“……Ah, forgive me. I was just in too much of a hurry.”

“What is your business?”

“…….”

Mi Hyoran-nim asked, brushing her wrist slightly. Hearing that, Namgung Jin-gun’s lips just moved.

No words came out. Seeing that, just as Mi Hyoran-nim was about to turn away.

“……Why can’t it be me?”

Namgung Jin-gun said.

“Gu Cheol-un. He can, but why can’t I?”

His voice was filled with sorrow.

‘As expected.’

I frowned, seeing this. Just as I expected, Namgung Jin-gun seemed to have feelings for Mi Hyoran-nim.

“Haa.”

Hearing his words, Mi Hyoran-nim sighed.

“Young Master Namgung. I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s nothing more foolish than searching for a reason for something that isn’t.”

“…….”

Mi Hyoran-nim spoke as if she already knew. Of course. Who wouldn’t know when he was so obviously smitten?

“Instead of a woman like me. I think it would be better if you focused on the person beside you?”

“…….”

“The person beside me? Haha…”

Namgung Jin-gun chuckled incredulously.

“Who is beside me?”

“Well, that would be Hyun So-yeon-ssi…”

“You know that already, don’t you? She isn’t beside me.”

“…….”

At Namgung Jin-gun’s firm words, Mi Hyoran-nim fell silent this time.

“She only chose me as her reason to be here…”

His voice was bitter and awkward. As if holding back a sigh, Namgung Jin-gun said to Mi Hyoran-nim,

“The moment Namgung Hyung-nim, that guy, disappears, she’ll leave this place without a second thought.”

‘……Huh?’

At those words, my eyes widened.

Why is Namgung Hyung-nim suddenly involved…

‘Huh?’

Hyun So-yeon-ssi’s words flashed through my mind. ‘I’m doing this because it’s something I have to do. This is different from love.’

‘She spoke from experience. Grab the chance while you can.’

“…….”

The words saying she didn’t like Namgung Jin-gun.

The words saying she had to go through with the engagement because it was necessary.

I recalled the words she spoke then and her bitter expression.

‘……And Namgung Hyung-nim?’

Then, the image of her cooking at Namgung Hyung-nim’s quarters overlapped.

‘Wha-?’

Could it be…?

Is it what I’m suspecting?

Then this…

‘What a dysfunctional family.’

Truly, there couldn’t be a bigger mess than this.