Chapter 118: Mere Appearance. (1)

Mere Appearance. (1)

My plan, before I barged into the annex without preamble, wasn’t this.

The original plan was a bit more polite. I never intended to barge in so violently in the first place.

Originally, I intended to make a deal. Fortunately, I possessed something valuable enough to ensure Namgung Bi-ah wouldn’t have to return to the clan.

Information about the sword Namgung Bi-ah used.

To be precise, it was about the sword used by the Sword Empress of my previous life.

Did I mention it sometime? The treasured artifacts possessed by clans or sects not only have special effects but also carry symbolic meaning.

The sword she used was the same. It was an artifact discovered by Namgung Myung, the Thunderous Sword Who Stands Alone, a hero who defended against the Blood Demon, the absolute master of the Namgung clan in ancient times, and it was called one of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains.

The Thunder Sword (雷劍), Thunder Fang (雷牙).

Currently, it’s a sword that the Heavenly Venerate should possess, but Thunder Fang won’t be in his hands right now.

Ironically, Thunder Fang is likely with the Mu-dang right now.

Mu-dang Gwae-seon.

He, one of the representative masters of the Mu-dang sect, would possess Thunder Fang.

I don’t know how things turned out that way, but it’s something I heard directly from the Sword Empress in my previous life.

Would the Sword Empress, who isn’t Zhuge Hyuk, really lie to me about something like this?

I thought, ‘No way.’

This is information about lost symbolism.

Could Namgung Jin, who lacks strength as the family head, truly overlook this? I predicted he wouldn’t.

[How do you plan to explain possessing such information?]

‘I have the token bestowed by Shin-ui.’

The token related to the Gae-bang will be helpful in this matter. I don’t know what use this wooden token has, but recalling how the Sword Empress was surprised when she saw it during the night camp, it must be a powerful item.

By mixing lies with the truth and borrowing the name of the Gae-bang, it would be an easy story to get past.

[What if that Namgung bastard goes to the Gae-bang and asks about it?]

I had thought of two methods for this part as well, but they’ve become useless now.

“…What did you just say?”

As the sun began to set, I asked Elder Lee. It seemed to be a rather serious matter, as Elder Lee’s expression was slightly stiff.

“The Namgung Family Head and Elder Il are having a private conversation.”

At Elder Lee’s words, I clicked my tongue. It was a statement that seemed to carry an unpleasant scent just by hearing it.

---

I had returned to my quarters and was talking with Wi Seol-ah. The atmosphere was not particularly different from usual.

I had already sent a servant to the annex where Namgung Bi-ah was staying to relay a message.

It was because there was still some time left after eating.

I had Wi Seol-ah sit in front of the wooden porch, and while eating yakgwa, I was fiddling with Wi Seol-ah’s giggling hair.

“You have pigtails today?”

“My older sister did it! I like it because it’s pretty.”

Wi Seol-ah’s hairstyle changes every day. This is because the servants style Wi Seol-ah’s hair however they please each day.

It seems today is a pigtail day.

As I ran my fingers through the smooth strands tied on both sides, Wi Seol-ah leaned against me, nestling into my embrace.

I naturally stroked Wi Seol-ah’s cheek. Wi Seol-ah didn’t particularly resist either.

“Hm?”

As I touched her soft, soft cheeks, the sensation in my hand felt quite different from before.

“Have you lost weight?”

“Huh?”

Even if her cheeks didn’t completely fill my hand before, they didn’t feel this empty. Wi Seol-ah’s cheeks now felt noticeably thinner compared to before.

‘Come to think of it….’

I grabbed Wi Seol-ah’s arm and felt it with my hand. It was certain now. She had lost weight.

Just a few months ago, she was pleasingly plump and cute, but now, her jawline was starting to show.

“…What the.”

Did her appetite decrease? Because considering that, I saw her eat every single meal today with her rice bowl completely full.

She’s even eating the yakgwa I gave her so deliciously right now. Noticing my subtle reaction, Wi Seol-ah asks me.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

…Why did she lose so much weight? Is she secretly exercising?

Just in case, I expanded my ki sense to examine Wi Seol-ah’s body, but there was no internal energy contained within her body.

Nothing. Wi Seol-ah’s body was still an empty vessel.

It doesn’t seem like martial arts, so is she just exercising then?

Or perhaps… Is she losing weight rapidly because she’s in her growth spurt? Her height seems to have increased a bit.

Even I have grown considerably taller this year. Of course, that’s compared to last year.

‘…I’m not particularly expecting much.’

Since I reached a certain height in my previous life, I wasn’t expecting to grow much taller now. As for Wi Seol-ah, her beauty had blossomed further with the weight loss, but losing that bit of baby fat seemed to have slightly diminished her unique cuteness.

“I need to feed her more.”

“Huh…?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

If she lost weight, I’ll just make her gain it back. As I resolved myself, a servant approached me.

“Young Master. Elder Lee has arrived.”

“Elder Lee?”

As soon as I heard the message, a large figure approached. It was Elder Lee, looking somewhat grim.

[I still can’t get used to that massive build, no matter how often I see it.]

‘He’s part of the Hwasan Sect, yet you find that physique strange?’

[What kind of nonsensical talk is that? Hwasan is a Taoist sect; what does that have to do with a muscle mountain like him….]

‘…’

Does he really not know? My head started to throb slightly, so I erased the thought from my mind.

I immediately asked Elder Lee.

“Elder Lee, is something the matter?”

His expression was quite bad. This was the man who always laughed heartily.

“Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

“It seems a problem has arisen.”

“A problem?”

At Elder Lee’s words, I adjusted my posture slightly. If Elder Lee was saying this, it meant something was indeed going on.

As my gaze changed, Elder Lee spoke with a sigh.

“The Namgung Family Head and Elder Il are having a private conversation.”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

It was a completely out-of-the-blue statement. Elder Il and Namgung Jin? What an unheard-of combination.

“Where did you hear something like that?”

“Hoho, this old man also has eyes and ears.”

“People naturally have eyes and ears… Alright, put your fist down, I was just joking.”

As I tried to joke around, he looked ready to give me a knuckle-tap, so I quickly corrected myself.

“…Do you even know how bad this situation is, you punk?”

“How bad can it possibly be…”

I just chuckled dismissively.

Seeing Elder Lee looking so urgent, I thought there might be a problem, but…

Recalling what Elder Il desired, I didn’t think the outcome of his intentions would go in the direction that old man wanted.

‘Does he want the clan that badly?’

From my perspective, that was even more curious. Why would he covet a mere nominal position so much? Does the seat my father occupies, and which I am meant to inherit, seem that prestigious?

Elder Il wouldn’t know, that place isn’t a throne. Does it look like my father is desperately clinging to his position? From my view, he seems more like someone who wants to step down more than anyone but can’t.

Elder Il’s problem is that, blinded by position and desire, he fails to notice the truly trivial facts.

If Elder Lee could find out about such things, there’s no way my father doesn’t know. Even knowing, he’s either not stopping Elder Il’s actions or not bringing it up unnecessarily.

Can Elder Il not anticipate any reason for this?

‘…That guy is really something else.’

I acknowledge Elder Il’s efforts, having lived his life for the clan.

His beliefs were misguided, and the position and meaning he sought were twisted.

Knowing how Elder Il ended up in my previous life, I could only see this as a futile struggle.

‘That snake of an old man.’

The conversation between those two, huh.

Only after hearing the information could I clearly understand the slightly ambiguous part.

The reason Namgung Jin went out of his way to visit the clan, have a conversation, and try to pick up Namgung Bi-ah.

It seems Elder Il was involved in that objective.

‘No wonder he was quiet.’

After dealing with Gu Jeolyub before, he hadn’t shown any particular movements, so I hadn’t paid much attention…

It seems he wasn’t doing nothing after all.

“I feel like I’ve been backstabbed.”

“Did something happen?”

“I went through all the trouble of clashing with the Namgung elders just to secure the engagement, but now the Family Head seems to have changed his mind, which is the problem.”

“…I wanted to ask about that. How exactly did you manage it?”

“Manage what?”

“The engagement with the Namgung clan.”

Not just any place, but the Namgung clan. It’s a prestigious place that doesn’t get involved with riff-raff. I don’t understand the reason why I could get engaged to the family head’s direct blood relative, not even a collateral branch.

Moreover, not only do I have a history of broken engagements, but most rumors about me known to the public are unfavorable. There’s no way the Namgung clan would have easily accepted this.

In response to my question, Elder Lee wore a thoughtful expression for a moment before speaking to me.

“You’ll get hurt if you know.”

Elder Lee’s face broke into a smirk. It was clearly a teasing expression, but I didn’t dare ask further. For some reason, it felt like it wasn’t achieved through normal means.

“Anyway, if it comes to this, we need to make a move.”

“Make a move? What move…”

“Hoho! How can you be so nonchalant when you don’t know how things will turn out!”

“No, then what are you planning to do? You’re not going to negotiate with the Namgung Family Head, are you? And you’re not going to fight the Namgung elders again, are you?”

“…Oh?”

“…Huh?”

‘Oh?’ What’s with the exclamation…?

As if my apprehension wasn’t unfounded, Elder Lee immediately got up.

“Yangcheon, for you, that’s quite a clever idea. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Ah, where are you going? Elder Lee, just wait, calm down for a moment! Where are you going so suddenly in the middle of the night? Let’s just take it slow, rationally… No, I told you not to go!”

I tried to grab him urgently, but Elder Lee left a spark behind and vanished before my eyes in an instant.

Even using my internal energy to try and grab him, his presence had already vanished.

“This… this crazy old man…!”

Even after raising my cultivation to this level, I couldn’t easily apprehend even Elder Lee alone.

“He didn’t actually go to the Namgung clan, did he?”

Surely not. He wouldn’t actually have such crazy initiative.

Even if he really did go, what could he possibly do there?

‘…I hate that I’m breaking out in a cold sweat while thinking this.’

Because that crazy old man really seemed like he would do it.

What kind of backing does he have that allows him to act like this consistently?

“…Haa.”

I let out a deep sigh and finally got up. It seemed about time, and I realized I couldn’t just stand by idly.

As I moved, Wi Seol-ah, who had been dozing off leaning against me, rubbed her eyes and asked.

“Young Master, are you going out?”

“It seems I have to.”

“Shall I go with you?”

“Go where, knowing where we’re going?”

“Anywhere is fine…”

While she spoke, trying to suppress a yawn, I ruffled Wi Seol-ah’s hair with my hand.

“Go find a place to sleep before Hong-wa finds you. I’ll be back soon.”

“Mmm…”

Responding sleepily, unable to fight off her drowsiness, she promptly collapsed onto the porch with a soft thud.

From my perspective, it looked like she’d be caught and dragged away by Hong-wa like that.

After seeing that much, I suppressed my annoyance and moved my feet.

Meanwhile, Elder Shin threw a remark at me.

[…Somehow, among the Goo clan members, I don’t see a single sane person.]

‘I know, right? Excluding me, everyone else is just…’

[Stop with the pointless talk and just go.]

‘…’

I shut my mouth awkwardly.