Chapter 111: Because I’m Going Too. (1)

I’m going too. (1)

After Gu Yangcheon left the room.

Between Tang Xiaoye and Namgung Bi-ah, the two left alone in the room, an unspoken silence lingered.

If Gu Yangcheon had stayed, the atmosphere would have been suffocatingly cold.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been quietly watching Tang Xiaoye, sat down across from her.

Tang Xiaoye naturally took out a fresh teacup, handed it to Namgung Bi-ah, and poured her some tea.

*Jjoreureuk-. *

Even in this moment, not a single word was exchanged between them.

A moment, which felt like a very long time, passed.

The first to speak was Tang Xiaoye.

“It’s been a while, unnie.”

“…Yeah. It’s been a while…”

Even as they spoke, they didn’t exchange glances. Namgung Bi-ah was counting the number of wood grain patterns on the table.

Tang Xiaoye was looking at the tea leaves floating on the tea.

“I thought I’d see you next year at the earliest, but you’re here sooner than expected. Right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Unnie.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you here?”

Tang Xiaoye’s direct question left Namgung Bi-ah momentarily speechless.

What should she say? Could she brush it off like usual, half-jokingly saying it’s because he’s her fiancé?

Namgung Bi-ah already knew. She couldn’t say that here.

Seeing Namgung Bi-ah’s silence, Tang Xiaoye took a sip of tea.

Her throat was getting dry. And she thought to herself.

I didn’t intend to have this kind of conversation in the first place…

Tang Xiaoye, sighing at the tangled conversation, brought up another topic.

“…I heard that you might be getting engaged to Young Master Gu.”

Might be getting engaged.

The engagement was already arranged between the families, so it was practically confirmed, but Tang Xiaoye couldn’t bring herself to state it as a fact.

It was a pathetic, fragile pride.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t find fault with this. She simply nodded quietly.

“Was this engagement also something you wished for?”

Tang Xiaoye asked.

Whether Namgung Bi-ah’s wishes were included in this engagement.

Tang Xiaoye still vividly remembered the memory from back then.

Namgung Bi-ah’s answer when asked if she liked Gu Yangcheon.

‘I said no.’

That’s what Namgung Bi-ah had said. That it wasn’t affection, not a rational liking.

However, looking at Namgung Bi-ah now, Tang Xiaoye wasn’t sure if she still felt the same way.

This wasn’t an abstract feeling that she might have changed over time.

Namgung Bi-ah’s deep blue eyes, once filled with emptiness, now held a distinct light.

Her pale, cool skin was flushed with a faint blush.

A flower has bloomed.

What was already radiant as a bud now bloomed beautifully, almost glowing.

Beautiful.

Seen as a woman, Namgung Bi-ah was overwhelmingly beautiful.

‘…It’s almost excessive.’

Tang Xiaoye secretly clenched her fist on her lap. She was quite confident in her own appearance.

In fact, Tang Xiaoye possessed delicate features that anyone would call beautiful.

She also enjoyed dressing up and adorning herself. She knew she was pretty, better than anyone.

But compared to the woman before her, everything about her felt insignificant.

That’s how profound Namgung Bi-ah’s beauty had blossomed.

Was she thinking this way partly due to jealousy centered around Gu Yangcheon?

‘…No, it’s not.’

Tang Xiaoye’s gaze briefly fell on the hair ornament tying Namgung Bi-ah’s long hair.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had even considered cutting off her beautiful hair, which got in the way during training, let alone wearing ornaments.

And yet, she was wearing an ornament.

“Unnie…?”

Tang Xiaoye called out to Namgung Bi-ah again. Only then did Namgung Bi-ah shake her head.

It was because her own wish hadn’t actually been included in the engagement.

“…Still. I think it’s fortunate.”

“…”

At Namgung Bi-ah’s reply, Tang Xiaoye lowered her head.

It felt like that sentence held all the answers.

‘…How did that stoic unnie end up like this.’

Honest with her emotions.

Whether it was in her gaze, as if looking at someone even when unseen.

Or the warmth mixed into the previously cold atmosphere.

Tang Xiaoye knew it all stemmed from harboring feelings for someone.

If Namgung Bi-ah had initially disliked the engagement, Tang Xiaoye had intended to help her.

To be honest, she had hoped for that very outcome.

She needed that kind of justification.

“Unnie, you said you didn’t like Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“Is it still like that…?”

Tang Xiaoye asked.

“No.”

Namgung Bi-ah replied. That was what she had told Tang Xiaoye back then.

But her answer now was different.

Even as she answered, Namgung Bi-ah wondered. Was she admiring the young man?

Honestly, she wasn’t sure.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t know love. So she couldn’t be certain.

She simply liked the occasional glances they exchanged, and the hand that stroked her when she was about to fall asleep.

She liked his actions, how he subtly took care of her even while speaking harshly.

There was also his meticulousness, how he’d consistently ask if she’d eaten amidst his brusque behavior, or notice if she was feeling down or tired.

When he wasn’t visible, she looked for him. When he was, she wanted to be near him.

When she approached him, he’d pretend to push her away, but ultimately, he’d stay put.

Namgung Bi-ah stayed by his side.

Is this love? She still didn’t know.

If she didn’t know, she could take her time finding out.

If she continued to be by his side, she would naturally come to know.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t know many things, but she was certain of this one thing.

At the firm answer, Tang Xiaoye carefully placed down the hand holding the teacup.

‘Unnie knows too little about the world and is mistaken.’

‘It won’t be good even if you get engaged like that.’

‘Do you know how many good men there are in the world? Let’s reconsider.’

Tang Xiaoye swallowed the many words that casually surfaced in her mind.

Even she thought they were petty and foolish words.

She didn’t want to go that far.

To Tang Xiaoye, Namgung Bi-ah was still more precious than Gu Yangcheon. Therefore, she couldn’t say anything further.

It was just…

‘Why, of all people….’

Why did Gu Yangcheon have to become Namgung Bi-ah’s fiancé? Tang Xiaoye, who had fallen for his looks and ended up like this, felt the same.

She felt a little wronged, too.

Should she have begged her father to arrange a marriage with the Gu family instead?

‘Father wouldn’t have done that, though.’

She had almost gone through with the engagement to Namgung Cheonjun, shedding half tears of blood.

Tang Xiaoye remembered how her father had smiled while trying to stop her tantrums back then.

Finally, Tang Xiaoye let out a sigh. Her exhaled breath clearly revealed her complicated feelings.

She had only been smitten by his looks, but was giving up this hard?

She relaxed the fist she had been tightly clenching.

“I’m sorry.”

Tang Xiaoye’s eyes widened at the sudden apology.

“What’s this apology for all of a sudden?”

“…Xiaoye…”

“No, it’s okay, unnie, you don’t have to apologize.”

Namgung Bi-ah, though only a few months had passed, had come to feel many things.

She had gained a perspective to see people’s emotions a little more deeply.

Compared to others, it was still shallow, but compared to her past self, it was significant.

And Tang Xiaoye’s emotions were so outwardly apparent that Namgung Bi-ah could sense them.

Tang Xiaoye smiled faintly at Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

Her seemingly bright smile was filled with disappointment.

“…Well, even though the engagement wasn’t something you pursued, unnie, he’s so handsome, so it’s natural you’d like Young Master Gu.”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, thinking she misheard, Namgung Bi-ah swept back the hair covering her ear. The first part of the sentence seemed a bit strange.

“What’s wrong?”

“…No. It’s nothing.”

Since it wasn’t the right situation to deny it otherwise, Namgung Bi-ah immediately gave up thinking about it.

“Actually, I should be the one apologizing to you, unnie…”

Saying that, Tang Xiaoye put the letter she had taken out back into her pocket.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t withdraw my recommendation to Young Master Gu.”

Accompanying him to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. She didn’t know what answer Gu Yangcheon would give, but Tang Xiaoye had no intention of giving up even now.

It wasn’t a resolution to snatch Gu Yangcheon away from Namgung Bi-ah at this point.

Even after hearing about Namgung Bi-ah’s changes and words, Tang Xiaoye couldn’t let go of Gu Yangcheon. She just wanted to be by his side for a moment.

I’m doomed.

This is what Tang Xiaoye was thinking right now.

‘This is why they say you shouldn’t be near handsome people because they live up to their looks.’

Maybe if I stay near him for a while, his terrible personality might make me sick of him?

She hoped for it faintly, but with that handsome face, she felt she wouldn’t get tired of it even until death.

“…Young Master Gu might refuse, but if you do end up going to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering…”

“…It’s fine.”

“Huh?”

Namgung Bi-ah’s nonchalant reply caught Tang Xiaoye off guard.

Moreover, Namgung Bi-ah wore a blank expression, as if asking what the problem was.

One would usually dislike or feel anxious about it, but Namgung Bi-ah said it as if it were natural.

“I’m… going too.”

“…Un, unnie?”

Namgung Bi-ah was someone who had never attended the Dragon Phoenix Gathering before.

She rarely came out of her family’s estate, and her connection with Tang Xiaoye was practically a coincidence intertwined with various circumstances.

Furthermore, Namgung Bi-ah disliked crowded places or people flocking to her.

“Unnie, the Dragon Phoenix Gathering…”

It was obvious without even looking.

It was a gathering where the rising talents from each region congregated.

Before competing to see who the stars of this era were, it was a place where all the outstanding men and women gathered.

Tang Xiaoye herself received countless advances every time; what would happen if Namgung Bi-ah went?

Since Namgung Bi-ah didn’t enjoy such attention, Tang Xiaoye found it strange that she would casually say she was going.

“It’s fine.”

She was nonchalant. Truly unfazed.

Namgung Bi-ah told Tang Xiaoye.

“He’s going.”

It was where Gu Yangcheon was going. That was enough.

For Namgung Bi-ah, that small reason was sufficient.

A few more awkward conversations followed.

They both had many things they wanted to say to each other, but neither felt the need to voice them.

Namgung Bi-ah ended the conversation and came outside.

Outside, Gu Yangcheon was standing and waiting. He seemed to be observing the situation subtly.

His sharp eyes darting around amusingly looked quite trivial.

Suddenly, Tang Xiaoye’s words came to mind.

‘She said he was handsome…’

Was her own perception flawed? She couldn’t quite agree with Tang Xiaoye’s assessment.

As she scrutinized his facial features one by one, Gu Yangcheon spotted Namgung Bi-ah.

He wore a frowning expression, curious about what they had talked about.

At that peculiar expression, Namgung Bi-ah let out a small laugh.

“What? Why are you laughing at my face?”

“…Nothing.”

She quickly changed her expression. It was something Namgung Bi-ah did best.

“Miss Tang.”

“I said I’d… go back later to talk.”

“So, you’re just telling me to leave now?”

“Yes.”

Actually, Tang Xiaoye hadn’t said that. It was something she blurted out seeing Gu Yangcheon about to re-enter the room.

‘Why did she lie.’

Why did she do that?

She just didn’t want Gu Yangcheon to go back into the room at that moment.

Gu Yangcheon wore a puzzled expression, but Namgung Bi-ah grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along.

“I’m hungry…”

“What’s this all of a sudden? You shared dumplings earlier.”

“…”

Right.

She remembered eating dumplings on the carriage ride here. Truthfully, she wasn’t very hungry because of it. But this was the only thing that urgently came to mind.

“I’m… hungry.”

“…Alright. We just need to eat. You’re really okay with just leaving, right?”

“Yes.”

Gu Yangcheon, unaware of Namgung Bi-ah’s true intentions, took her words at face value and started walking.

Gu Yangcheon, if nothing else, had always made sure she ate when she said she was hungry.

• ‘Other things are bad too, but being hungry is the worst, you know.’

Namgung Bi-ah couldn’t understand how Gu Yangcheon could say that, given that someone like him wouldn’t likely starve anywhere.

Watching Gu Yangcheon walk quietly ahead, Namgung Bi-ah quickened her pace to join him.

“What should we eat? What shall we eat?”

“…Anything…?”

“Do you know that answer is the most annoying?”

They walked side-by-side, chatting about trivial things. This simple act was likely everything Namgung Bi-ah wished for.

---

Inside the Gu family’s head’s study, Gu Cheolun was confronting Geomhu.

“You must have been tired today, I told you you could rest, so why have you come?”

Geomhu had stated that she would stay at Gu Linghwa’s lodging.

Considering the relationship between the two, Gu Cheolun had judged there would be no issue and agreed.

“There are too many things I want to ask, so it’s hard to just rest.”

“Things you want to ask… You mean from me, Geomhu?”

“Yes.”

Gu Cheolun scanned Geomhu with a fierce gaze. Her aura was quite different from when they last met years ago.

‘Looks like the treatment was successful.’

Gu Cheolun had immediately realized that Geomhu was gradually deteriorating back then.

Seeing that, Gu Cheolun opened his mouth.

“It’s fortunate that you seem recovered…”

“Daeju.”

Gu Cheolun’s eyebrows furrowed at Geomhu’s interrupting words.

For Gu Cheolun, it was a term he hadn’t heard in over a decade. He spoke to Geomhu in a growling voice.

“Geomhu, what is this you’re doing?”

“I have something I want to ask Daeju.”

“I wish you’d correct your title. Are you trying to reminisce now?”

“Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?”

“It’s all in the past, all forgotten.”

At Gu Cheolun’s firm words, Geomhu sneered.

“From my perspective, Daeju, you seem to have forgotten nothing. Isn’t the former Alliance Leader residing within the Gu family proof of that?”

“…”

Geomhu immediately recognized Sword Master. Sword Master likely knew that fact as well.

However, she didn’t make it obvious. Knowing that Sword Master himself wished for this, she showed minimal consideration.

Geomhu looked at Gu Cheolun and said.

“When you entrusted Linghwa to me, you stipulated that I shouldn’t ask about Cheonhui. I intend to keep that promise.”

“Then what are you doing now?”

“However, what about the Demonic Mirror?”

“…Geomhu!”

“Although it happened over a decade ago, I still remember it.”

Despite Gu Cheolun’s shout, Geomhu didn’t even frown. If anything, she only became colder and more chilling.

“That’s precisely why I came here to ask you, Daeju.”

Geomhu met Gu Cheolun’s fierce eyes and asked.

“Daeju, or rather, what exactly did you experience in the Demonic Mirror?”

Finally, at Geomhu’s question, flames erupted from Gu Cheolun’s body.