Chapter 1104: Scorched World.

Drip.

As I squeezed my clothes with my pale hands, blood flowed right down. It seemed to have absorbed quite a bit of water, because the amount flowing was no joke.

And what about the thing I was holding?

‘It’s a flail.’

A shape with spikes growing from a metal sphere. Seeing the chain connecting it, I knew immediately how it was used as a weapon.

‘That woman is using that.’

It was peculiar that the person using it was none other than a delicate woman. Because it was a weapon that a normal person wouldn’t typically use.

Whoosh-! Whoosh-whoosh-!

The woman stopped wringing out her clothes and swung her flail a few times before bringing it closer.

Then.

“Phew! Done.”

She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand as if refreshed.

“…….”

Anyone seeing it might think it was a refreshingly innocent sight, but covered in monster blood from head to toe, I had nothing to say.

Just then.

“……Young Miss Hyun?”

Namgung Jin, who was behind me, blurted out in a surprised voice. At that voice, the woman holding the flail looked towards Namgung Jin.

“Ah. Found you.”

As she looked at him and smiled, I couldn’t help but feel a chill.

“How did Young Miss Hyun get here…?”

It seemed Namgung Jin felt the same way, staring at the woman called Young Miss Hyun with wide eyes.

‘Do they know each other?’

It certainly looked that way. What’s more.

‘She looks exactly the same.’

The woman I knew. She had the exact same appearance as Namgung Bi-ah.

How could they look so alike? Just as that question arose.

“Geomryong.”

A low voice swallowed the surroundings. When Gu Cheol-un spoke, the atmosphere seemed to freeze solid for a moment.

“Explain. Who is she?”

“…….”

All eyes turned to Geomryong. He glanced at Mi Hyoran for a moment, then closed his mouth, unable to speak.

As that awkward silence lingered.

“She’s my fiancée.”

The answer came not from Namgung Jin, but from the woman.

“Huh?”

“Whoa.”

Everyone reacted with surprise. The most surprised among them was me.

‘Fiancée?’

I stared at the woman, my eyes wide as saucers.

Fiancée?

‘And the fact that she looks exactly like Namgung Bi-ah.’

Ah. I see.

Having figured that much out, I could finally ascertain the woman’s identity.

‘This woman.’

She must be the one who would become Namgung Bi-ah’s mother later on.

I was certain of it as I watched the smiling woman.

---

Hyun So-yeon.

Age: Twenty-two.

The daughter of Sunho Merchant Group, a famous merchant guild in the Anhui region.

Her height was about half a span shorter than Namgung Bi-ah, whom I knew, but otherwise, her appearance was such that one could hardly tell them apart.

‘How can that be?’

Everything except her height and hair color.

Everything was a mirror image of Namgung Bi-ah.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but be convinced that she was indeed the one who would become Namgung Bi-ah’s mother.

The problem was.

‘…What have I heard about her?’

I didn’t really know anything about this woman named Hyun So-yeon.

Not only had I heard nothing, but as far as I knew, she was already dead at this point.

The little information I could recall was:

‘The daughter of the top merchant guild in Anhui.’

And because of that, she was even engaged to the Namgung family.

That was about all I had heard.

‘But.’

To think such a woman would suddenly appear here.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Hyun So-yeon.”

Crackle.

Pop.

We were sitting around a campfire, the embers slowly burning. It wasn’t exactly a campsite, but this situation arose because an unexpected person appeared.

“I didn’t expect to meet such distinguished people.”

She said with a bright smile. Her smile momentarily brightened the surroundings.

‘…Wow.’

She looked exactly like Namgung Bi-ah and smiled so naturally. As I watched her with fascination.

Tap tap.

Someone tapped my side. I looked over and saw So-i.

“Don’t stare rudely.”

Was I staring too intently? I nodded at her remark.

“I was taking a detour while trying to find the way, and wouldn’t you know it, monsters appeared? I was really in big trouble. It’s a great relief to have met you all.”

“…….”

“…….”

No one reacted to her words. In big trouble?

‘Lies.’

I could tell just from the way she swung the flail and the killing intent surrounding her.

‘At least first-rate.’

Maybe even peak if she’s good.

Considering she was from a merchant family, she possessed a remarkably high level of cultivation.

She wasn’t someone who would be defeated by a mere green-grade monster.

Just then.

“So-yeon…”

Someone called her name. It was Mi Hyoran.

Hyun So-yeon’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Mi Hyoran.

“Oh my, Unni. Nice to see you! Fancy meeting you here?”

They seemed to know each other. Well.

‘Both are daughters of merchant guilds.’

Whether it was the Baekhwa Merchant Group or the Sunho Merchant Group, both were famous guilds, so it wasn’t strange for their direct descendants to know each other.

“What brings you here…?”

“Huh? Ah, I just told you…”

Hyun So-yeon pointed at someone with her hand in response to Mi Hyoran’s question.

It was Namgung Jin.

“I came looking for my fiancé. He wasn’t showing up.”

“No…”

Namgung Jin, who was pointed at, scrunched up his face.

“How could you possibly come see me during my mission? I clearly sent word that I had joined the Murim Alliance, didn’t I?”

At his incredulous words, Hyun So-yeon clicked her tongue.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

‘Huh?’

I thought I misheard. What did she say…?

“Who was it that said they’d return to the family and told me to come if I wanted to? And now you’re backing out? Jin-lang. Are you crazy?”

Ah, no, I hadn’t misheard. Hyun So-yeon.

‘She has a strong personality.’

Unlike Namgung Bi-ah, she seemed to have quite a fierce personality.

“No… You kept telling me to come even though I said I couldn’t because I was in the Murim Alliance. I just told you to go wait there if you wanted it so badly.”

“And I waited! What’s the problem? You even came out to greet me. Shouldn’t you be happy about this?”

“Are you serious right now…!”

“Who was it that suddenly joined the Murim Alliance when the engagement ceremony was clearly scheduled?”

“…….”

At Hyun So-yeon’s words, Namgung Jin shut his mouth tight. It seemed that guy had caused some trouble.

“Thanks to you, I know the Namgung Family Head and our Guild Master had quite a bit of trouble, right?”

“…….”

“And yet? You say you can’t come because you need to achieve great things in the Murim Alliance? Jin-lang. Are you out of your mind?”

“…….”

Seeing him getting beaten down like this, it felt like the other party wasn’t new to getting thrashed.

“And besides, that ‘great thing’ you’re talking about isn’t even anything grand…”

As Hyun So-yeon spoke, she subtly glanced at Mi Hyoran.

“It’s a problem because the reason is annoying. You know?”

“…….”

Namgung Jin finally avoided her gaze. It meant he wanted to avoid further conversation because it would only be detrimental.

“…… Phew”

Although she had more to say, Hyun So-yeon closed her mouth as if deciding not to speak further.

Immediately after, she looked at the person seated at the place of honor, Gu Cheol-un.

“Shinryong.”

“Speak.”

My father was only looking at the campfire in front of him.

“It seems your identity has been confirmed. If it’s alright, may I accompany you? You seem to be heading to the Namgung family’s estate. I left in such a hurry that I didn’t bring any food or supplies.”

At Hyun So-yeon’s words, my father looked at her. I saw Hyun So-yeon falter slightly under his gaze.

However, she quickly composed her expression and continued.

“I’ll provide compensation once we return.”

“Very well.”

“What-!”

At my father’s decision, Namgung Jin shot up.

“Gu Cheol-un! What do you mean-.”

Namgung Jin said angrily, but. Just then, a chilling aura erupted from my father’s body.

Kuaaaaaa-!

“Gak!?”

Crushed by the aura, Namgung Jin let out a choked sound.

“Use the correct title, Namgung Jin.”

“Nnnngh……!”

Feeling the force constricting his throat, Namgung Jin trembled and spoke.

“Vice… Leader…”

At those words, thump! The aura subsided, and Namgung Jin staggered.

“Cough. Cough…!”

Ignoring Namgung Jin, who was clutching his throat and coughing, my father spoke to Hyun So-yeon.

“If our paths are the same and compensation is properly provided, there should be no issue.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

Though she spoke calmly, her face showed considerable surprise. It seemed she hadn’t expected Namgung Jin to be subdued like that.

…So.

‘Is this woman really going to the Namgung family’s estate with us?’

If my father had already decided, it would proceed.

It was certainly a peculiar companionship.

As I thought that, I quietly looked at Hyun So-yeon.

“……!”

Suddenly, our eyes met. It was a very brief moment.

Hyun So-yeon, having seen me, suddenly smiled brightly.

It was a natural and beautiful smile.

Our gazes met briefly before passing. Seeing that, I thought:

‘It suits her.’

That kind of smile seemed fitting for Namgung Bi-ah too.

That’s what I thought.

---

Time passed. Life in the carriage was no different.

We were still heading towards the Namgung family’s estate.

Since the journey would take at most another day, I thought I could endure it.

‘Damn it.’

The already cramped space became even narrower.

The reason was simple.

“……Don’t come any closer.”

“How can I not get closer when it’s this cramped? Jin-lang, please bear with it.”

It was because Hyun So-yeon had entered the carriage.

Mi Hyoran had squeezed Hyun So-yeon into our carriage, not her own.

Her reasoning was that since Hyun So-yeon had a fiancé, it should be fine. Hyun So-yeon agreed.

Namgung Jin, who had protested, was easily ignored.

And we were the ones suffering the inconvenience.

‘Ah, damn it.’

This is tough.

How much longer would I have to endure this?

As I was pondering this.

“We’ve arrived.”

I heard the coachman shout. Hearing this, I let out a sigh of relief.

‘We’re here.’

Anseong Province.

The place where the Namgung family resides.

Just as I was relieved to have arrived there.

“Huh?”

The coachman shouted in panic.

“Up, up ahead. The Family Head is coming!”

“Hm?”

At those words, everyone inside the carriage widened their eyes.

“What…!?”

Namgung Jin’s face instantly turned pale.