Chapter 132: You Shouldn’t Mess With Them. (1)

I shouldn’t mess with that one. (1)

Just before departing for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, Elder Yi, as expected, showed up, and I ran into him.

“You’re leaving just as you arrive.”

“I know, right? How did things turn out this way?”

Even in my previous life, around this time, I would have been holed up in my family estate, living a life of sloth.

My life’s direction has changed so drastically that it almost makes me chuckle wryly.

“I heard this time won’t take long, so that’s at least fortunate.”

Given the distance, it really wasn’t a schedule that would take too long.

In that situation, Elder Yi brings up a topic with me.

“By the time Yangcheon, you return, this old man probably won’t be around.”

“Huh? Elder Yi-nim, where are you going?”

“It seems there’s some business over at the Five Swords Division.”

“The Five Swords Division….”

That was the place currently headed by Gu Huibi.

It’s an organization focused on searches and dispatchments. Did Elder Yi really have a reason to go to a place like that?

What happened around this time? It doesn’t seem like anything major occurred.

“It’s not that big of a deal, so don’t worry.”

“Who in the world would worry about Elder Yi-nim?”

If there’s a problem, one would worry about the other party.

“Ah, and regarding the winter Nine Dragons Gathering, it’s fortunate that both your sisters will be there, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“You mean my second sister and the youngest?”

“Yes.”

The Nine Dragons Gathering, held twice every year, requires attendance from blood relatives, and it seems this winter it will be Gu Ryeonghwa and Gu Yeonseo.

‘Gu Ryeonghwa belongs to Mount Hua, so is that okay?’

They must be setting it up because there are no major issues.

I heard that the second sister, Gu Yeonseo, had conveyed that she wouldn’t be attending this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

I don’t know if it’s because she attended last year, or because I’m involved, but still.

‘…Gu Ryeonghwa and Gu Yeonseo.’

Remembering that the relationship between the two wasn’t very good, I worry about Gu Ryeonghwa, but…

Thinking about how she acted at the Mount Hua Sect, I also think she might be able to overcome it alone.

‘Actually, it might be better to worry about Gu Yeonseo.’

Our last meeting didn’t go well, so we haven’t had much contact.

Gu Yeonseo has finished her seclusion, so I don’t know what growth she might have achieved, but…

Gu Ryeonghwa now is no pushover either.

“Ah, Yangcheon-ah.”

“Yes.”

As I answered his call, Elder Yi rummaged through his robes and spoke to me.

“I heard you’re going to Shaolin Temple…”

“I refuse.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Elder Yi about to take something out, I cut him off sharply.

Thinking about how that guy shoved the Mount Hua Sect’s treasured artifact onto me last time when I said I was going to Mount Hua.

Who knows what he’ll do this time saying I’m going to Shaolin Temple.

“I won’t accept anything from you, Elder Yi-nim.”

“Goodness, are you refusing before even knowing what I’ll give you?”

“…Either way, I’m not taking it.”

Who knows? I managed to get the Mount Hua Sect’s artifact through a drinking bet, so who’s to say a Shaolin artifact won’t pop out?

Elder Yi laughed, seemingly dumbfounded, and pulled out a money pouch.

“Look at this brat, talking as if I always order you around. I was just going to give you some pocket money…”

“Thank you. Elder Yi-nim, you really are the only one for me.”

“…You really get more shameless every day. What am I supposed to do about this?”

Elder Yi sighed but still placed the money pouch in my hand.

“I didn’t put much in.”

“Then I’ll be a bit disappointed… Just kidding. You can stop worrying.”

If I let my guard down for even a second, I could have easily gotten hit.

I gave the money pouch a slight shake, and heard the sound of silver coins clinking inside.

It had a decent weight too, suggesting he put in quite a bit, contrary to his words.

“Thank you.”

“Yes, since you’re going anyway, go cause some trouble.”

Elder Yi said it so confidently that I thought I misheard for a moment.

“…Didn’t you tell me to behave myself last time?”

When I went to Mount Hua or Sichuan, I recall hearing lectures about my status as a blood relative and my authority. But now he’s telling me to cause trouble?

At my words, Elder Yi looked at me as if I were absurd.

“The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is meant for causing trouble in the first place. It’ll be full of people desperate to stand out more than anyone else.”

Elder Yi’s words were a bit exaggerated, but not entirely wrong.

For a martial artist, reputation might seem secondary, but it’s actually a crucial part.

It’s truly realistic, isn’t it.

It’s also the reason why people my age desperately try to earn a sobriquet at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

And the reason they highly regard and envy the outstanding stars of the era like Thunder Dragon, Sword Dragon, Poison Peak, Sword Peak, and so on.

It’s no different than proving they’ve been recognized for their value and are destined to stand tall in the near future.

“You’ll handle it well on your own, I’m sure.”

“Where does that burdensome faith of yours even come from?”

“Even when I tell you not to cause trouble, don’t you go around causing it anyway? If I tell you to, you’ll probably cause even more.”

“…”

It was a sad truth that I couldn’t deny.

As I continued chatting with Elder Yi for a while longer, Gu Jeolyeop approached from a distance, sweating profusely.

“First, First Young Master-nim. It’s all loaded.”

“Already?”

What a shame, it seems the amount was a bit less than I expected.

Gu Jeolyeop, panting heavily, bowed his head again upon seeing Elder Yi beside him.

“Greetings, Elder Yi-nim.”

“Oh, it’s Jeolyeop. You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you.”

Gu Jeolyeop smiled sheepishly.

He certainly looked much taller than when I last met him.

I’ve grown quite a bit this year focusing on my martial arts too, but not to that extent… I don’t like it.

Elder Yi stared intently at Gu Jeolyeop, then spoke to me.

-Don’t push him too hard, that child is pitiful too.

-That might be a bit difficult, but I’ll try my best.

He asked via telepathy, so I replied the same way.

Elder Yi seemed slightly surprised by that, but perhaps having already sensed my level, he simply let it pass.

“Anyway, have a safe trip.”

“Yes.”

With those words, Elder Yi immediately started walking away.

He must be quite busy.

Seeing Gu Ryeonghwa standing a distance away with a sullen expression was the last thing I saw.

I too boarded the carriage and set off for Hanam, where the Martial Alliance is located.

For reference, Gu Jeolyeop drove the carriage.

---

We set off on our journey, and the seasons changed quickly.

Autumn left without lingering, as if winter had already arrived.

As if to prove it, the beautifully blooming autumn leaves went to sleep, promising to return next year.

And me too. I welcomed my first winter after regression with a slightly excited heart.

As I watched the snow falling outside, Wi Seol-ah handed me a steamed bun and spoke.

“Young Master-nim… aren’t you cold?”

“Hmm? I find it refreshing, which is nice.”

“Young Master Gu… people usually say they get cold wearing clothes like that.”

Tang Soyeol added her two cents.

Even so, right after reaching the 5th star in internal energy cultivation, one doesn’t feel the cold much.

Thanks to that, my attire wasn’t much different from summer.

Perhaps because of that, others probably see my attire as quite chilly.

“Young Master-nim, shall I give you my clothes?”

“Even if I took everyone else’s clothes, taking yours would earn me quite a scolding.”

Wi Seol-ah, for instance, was bundled up in fur clothing.

They said it was made from the fur and hide of beasts.

Surprisingly, they said the Sword Master himself made it.

Just like his hobby of sculpting, he seems to have excellent dexterity.

Tang Soyeol, being from a prestigious family, has many people to look after her, and Namgung Bi-ah seemed to be diligently cared for by Tang Soyeol.

She was currently sleeping soundly, nestled between Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-ah.

“She’s not a bear, but she’s hibernating.”

Lately, she seems to have become unusually sleepy.

As if answering in her stead, Tang Soyeol said with a slight smile.

“She usually sleeps a lot when she’s cold.”

“Is it really because she’s cold, or does she just sleep a lot normally?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Tang Soyeol couldn’t refute that point and avoided my gaze.

“…Perhaps, if you’re cold, I could offer you some tea?”

“If it’s the poisoned tea you gave me last time, I won’t accept it.”

“Hmph.”

I had accepted and drunk the tea she offered, saying it was cold, but it turned out to be a type of poisonous herb that generates body heat.

Although it was at a level harmless to the human body, it was still a poisonous herb, which left a bitter taste.

‘Seriously, I can’t let my guard down around her.’

Although it wasn’t a very long time, perhaps because we’d been close, Tang Soyeol wasn’t entirely uncomfortable.

Especially since she was spending time in our carriage instead of her own.

I took a bite of the steamed bun Wi Seol-ah had given me.

“When did you pack this?”

“When we stopped by the village earlier.”

“I’m sorry. It’s okay to talk with your mouth full.”

Wi Seol-ah couldn’t speak clearly with her mouth full of the bun, but…

It seemed she was saying she got it when we stopped by the village last time.

‘She eats that much, yet she doesn’t gain weight.’

I used to worry because she was so thin, but now, because she always eats an unbelievable amount, her cheeks have filled out, which looks good.

The current Wi Seol-ah looks healthy rather than thin, increasingly resembling her appearance in my past life, her beauty blossoming, but…

It was a bit disappointing that those soft cheeks had disappeared.

As I stroked Wi Seol-ah’s cheek with a touch of disappointment, they were still soft and squishy.

‘Looks like she still has some baby fat.’

If that disappeared too, I would be truly disappointed.

Perhaps because my hand was warm, Wi Seol-ah pressed her face a little closer to my hand.

“Warm?”

“Your hands are always warm, Young Master-nim…!”

Even though it had become winter, my body generated plenty of heat.

Looking out the carriage window, the snow was falling slowly and piling up.

Watching it quietly for a moment, I asked the driver.

“How much further?”

“We should arrive shortly…”

A tired voice immediately replied.

The driver was none other than Gu Jeolyeop.

Originally, the Sword Master had volunteered as the driver, but he did not participate in this journey.

It was strange, and it gave me much to ponder.

He didn’t join the journey, yet he allowed Wi Seol-ah to come along.

‘What could he be thinking?’

I don’t know the Sword Master. That’s why I felt uneasy.

[…Isn’t it right not to trust him?. ]

‘You’ve appeared after a long time.’

It was the voice of Old Man Shin, sounding exhausted.

As the seasons changed, Old Man Shin gradually spoke less, saying he really didn’t suit the cold.

Even though he claimed spirits feel nothing.

[I don’t feel the cold…. But winter feels somewhat difficult.]

What’s the difference? It was something neither Old Man Shin nor I could easily understand.

Anyway, the driver’s position, which had become vacant, could easily have been filled by Mu Yeon or other guards, but…

Since Gu Jeolyeop happened to say he could drive horses, I had him do it.

Perhaps because he was raised somewhat preciously, Gu Jeolyeop wore a rather displeased expression at my words, but he didn’t argue.

Besides, even though he’s from a collateral branch, he cultivates internal energy, so he’s strong against the cold.

I had to make him do something.

‘Seeing as he listens to everything I say, it seems he’s firmly caught by Elder Yi or Father.’

It’s unlikely Father did anything, so it must be Elder Yi.

In the meantime, Gu Jeolyeop didn’t seem to be doing anything particular.

‘Although he did get rejected after trying to talk to Tang Soyeol.’

And it was a very cold and sharp rejection.

-I’m sorry, but your face is physiologically difficult for me, so please don’t talk to me.

Hearing that, the fact that I felt even colder wasn’t due to the weather.

As a result, Gu Jeolyeop lost his voice that day and didn’t even eat.

‘It seems he doesn’t bother the hibernating bear or Wi Seol-ah, though.’

It’s not because Namgung Bi-ah or Wi Seol-ah aren’t pretty.

Objectively speaking, Tang Soyeol is also considered pretty, but those two are on a different level.

It’s just that he’s engaged to Namgung Bi-ah, and Wi Seol-ah tried to touch her and got beaten up, so maybe he’s forcing himself to hold back?

‘Then is Tang Soyeol his target?’

But then again, he doesn’t seem to be making any effort towards her.

Could he really be playing the role of a hostage?

He shows clear displeasure on his face, yet he does everything he’s told.

Other than occasionally sparring with Mu Yeon, Gu Jeolyeop didn’t do anything else.

Every time I saw him, I’d pick on him verbally or physically.

-Hey, go fetch some water.

-I brought some earlier.

-What about cleaning the carriage?

-I did it this morning. Along with the cleaning you mentioned yesterday.

-…Have you eaten?

-I haven’t.

-…Let’s eat.

He actually did the work surprisingly well.

Why?

Why is he so good at his job?

“I just can’t figure it out.”

“Figure what out?”

“Just… him, her, and her… I can’t figure any of them out.”

“Young Master-nim, my grandfather always said that the world is inherently unknowable.”

“…Old Man Wi teaches you the strangest things.”

This early education is terrifying.

I spoke to Mu Yeon, who was walking alongside the carriage outside.

“Mu Yeon.”

“Yes, Young Master-nim.”

His posture in answering was still upright, and his gaze faced forward, but the aura emanating from Mu Yeon’s body reached out in all directions.

In any case, he’s textbook, almost excessively so.

Meanwhile.

‘…He’s breaking through the barrier.’

Perhaps something happened, but Mu Yeon seemed close to overcoming the bottleneck of reaching the peak.

That means he’s putting in the effort.

“When we arrive, do we have to go straight to the Alliance?”

“No. It seems you can stay briefly at the lodging arranged by the Alliance.”

“They even arranged lodging?”

Usually, they don’t arrange lodging.

It seems the Martial Alliance is paying attention to something.

‘I’d know if I had attended before.’

After all, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering I participated in under the name of the Young Master Sect Leader turned into a mess.

The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering’s Demonic Realm Competition incident.

If it weren’t for that damn experience, I could have known various things.

‘That kind of thing… I just need to prevent it from happening now.’

It was an incident akin to a disaster.

The most outstanding young talents of the era were all transported at once.

In the end, everyone returned, and no one died, but I know.

Everyone except me died back then.

‘…Should I call that survival?’

As recorded in the Alliance’s records, everyone lived. Including me.

However, the problem was that everyone except me had no memory of the Demonic Realm.

‘…’

A considerable amount of time had passed, including my regression, but my heart still ached whenever I tried to recall it.

‘It’s useless lingering sentiment.’

It’s in the past.

And it’s something that must not happen again.

“First Young Master-nim.”

I listened to Gu Jeolyeop’s voice.

“I can see the castle….”

“Oh? Can you wake that bear up?”

At my words, Wi Seol-ah shook Namgung Bi-ah, who was sleeping leaning on Tang Soyeol.

“Ughh…”

“Unni! You have to wake up!”

“Eek! Unni, you’re drooling…!”

I should pretend I didn’t see that just now.

‘Hanam.’

I exhaled, feeling the cold air.

The heart of the Orthodox faction, which was the center of all events.

After a journey that was not short, we arrived in Hanam, where the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple are located.

---

The lodging for young disciples prepared by the Martial Alliance, Ba Cheon Maru.

Inside the room where we had just finished unpacking, a beautiful woman was scowling.

Her face was crumpled as if she were in a bad mood, but it didn’t detract from the woman’s beauty in the slightest.

“Perhaps we arrived too early, Miss.”

To the attendant’s question, the woman smiled faintly.

“…What can we do? He’s supposed to arrive around this time.”

Pale blue eyes flickered in the woman’s gaze.

Seeing those eyes, the attendant asked cautiously.

“Should I prepare some liquor?”

“…I am a bit hungry, but it’s fine. If I drink now, it’ll be obvious.”

Watching the snow falling outside the lodging window, the woman thought.

“Sori-ah.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Isn’t life really shitty?”

At the rough words suddenly spat from the woman’s mouth, the attendant, while organizing the luggage, slipped and fell.

Immediately after, the attendant cried out urgently.

“Miss, please…! Try to moderate your language!”

“What’s the big deal? There’s no one around.”

“What if the Family Head hears you…?”

“Father? He’d fly here all the way from Yaoryeong?”

“…The Family Head might actually do that.”

At the attendant’s vague words, the woman chuckled.

She thought Father might really do that.

After watching the falling snow for a long time, the woman closed the window.

“It’s cold.”

I hate the sight of snow, no matter where it falls.

Calming her shivering body with internal energy, Snow Phoenix Moyong Hi-ah recalled.

Winter is truly a shitty season.