Chapter 171: Want to Go Together? (2)

Want to Go Together? (2)

Unlike the intense days of the martial arts tournament. The end was a peaceful conclusion.

It was a hassle to drag my bothersome body up to stand before the Sect Leader on the platform, but what could I do? It wasn’t like I could throw a tantrum and refuse to go.

“Congratulations on becoming a new star.”

“Thank you.”

“Your son has achieved such great accomplishments, your father must be very pleased.”

“Haha… ha…. Of course.”

“Since a true dragon has been born in Gu Family, the day you soar is not far off.”

At Jang Cheon’s words, I recalled my father’s face.

He’d really like it?

Even when Gu Hyebi appeared as the tip of a sword. That guy who just filled it in with three letters, saying ‘I see’.

I wondered if he’d actually show any reaction to his son winning.

‘And what the heck is a True Dragon, anyway?’

They said they called him True Dragon meaning a real dragon. What kind of cringe-worthy phrase is that?

‘It’s better than my previous life, but….’

Since it was better than that, at least I could breathe.

If I were to get a similar epithet in this life too…. I really didn’t want to imagine that part.

How can a person’s epithet be like that….

“…Ugh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…. My head just hurts a little.”

Jang Cheon looked at me strangely, then approached Jang Seonyeon next to him.

Jang Seonyeon was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, perhaps due to the backlash from yesterday.

‘I thought I had controlled myself somewhat.’

If I broke his bones, I made sure they would heal well.

I made sure to hit him carefully so as not to create any untreatable injuries, so he should recover quickly.

‘I should have pulverized his right arm or something.’

That was a bit regrettable.

Since Jang Seonyeon was a swordsman who used his left hand, crushing his right arm would have been fine.

‘Still.’

I felt like I had definitely achieved one goal.

I could clearly sense the subtle emotion in Jang Seonyeon’s gaze as he looked at me.

‘Is he scared?’

When I glanced over, I saw Jang Seonyeon’s shoulder flinch.

It didn’t seem like acting, but I couldn’t be sure yet.

It was okay if it wasn’t fear. If it held something else, that would be enough.

For now, at least.

‘Dokgo Jun.’

That mysterious entity I faced at the end.

Just thinking about that damn bastard who arbitrarily infused his energy into my body made my feelings rather complicated.

‘Is that guy still inside Jang Seonyeon?’

If that were the case, I’d have to consider many things.

Does Jang Seonyeon have the memories from that time? Does he even know about that bastard named Dokgo Jun?

Etc.

If it were up to me, I’d secretly grab Jang Seonyeon and torture him, but.

I knew it was nearly impossible in the current situation.

That’s why it’s even more frustrating.

“You worked hard.”

“…No, Sect Leader-nim.”

Jang Cheon smiled and patted Jang Seonyeon’s shoulder.

Jang Seonyeon bowed his head deeply at that sight, making them seem like a truly touching father-son pair.

From my perspective, though, their interaction looked like nothing more than a show.

Looking at Jang Seonyeon, I had another question.

‘Doesn’t he realize his energy is gone?’

Energy did still exist within Jang Seonyeon’s body.

It was because Dokgo Jun didn’t let him drain all his energy and stopped him midway.

Even so, the amount being replenished had decreased.

Jang Seonyeon must surely feel the empty space in his vessel, so there’s no way he wouldn’t know.

Yet, Jang Seonyeon’s reaction was too lukewarm.

I thought he would come looking for me the moment he woke up.

Same with Naeryong; he didn’t bother looking for me.

It was good for me, but I couldn’t just view it positively.

Because now, nothing could be easily predicted.

‘There are so many differences from my previous life.’

Rather than differences.

It would be more accurate to say there were too many things I didn’t know.

The stories I’ve only learned since entering this life were enough to fill my head.

‘Where should I even start organizing this?’

I had been organizing it in my head all day, but nothing was easy to conclude.

It wasn’t something I could just let slide like usual.

Internally, I organized my complex thoughts while forcing a calm expression.

I figured it wouldn’t do to unnecessarily stand out, so I was paying attention to that too.

“With this, to the new stars who worked hard…”

As Jang Cheon finished his few words, cheers and applause poured from the surroundings.

The items I received for winning included several spirit pills and a sword made by a master craftsman, but.

Since I wasn’t a swordsman, nor would I ever be, I figured I could just toss them to Mu Yeon or Gu Jeolyeop.

I knew they were already subtly eyeing them.

Why were they getting their hopes up amongst themselves?

I had intended to give them, but seeing them like that made me less inclined.

It’s just that I’m quite a twisted person.

‘Maybe she won’t need it.’

Namgung Bi-ah flashed through my mind for a moment, but I dismissed that thought for now.

The sword Namgung Bi-ah would use was already decided, so I didn’t want to give her another one.

‘There’s no need to, necessarily, but.’

She could use another sword later, but I didn’t want Namgung Bi-ah to do that.

This was purely my selfishness.

Could this also be considered possessiveness?

Waaaaaaaah-!

The ear-piercing sound made me finally look around.

The people filling the surroundings were cheering.

So much so that my ears felt numb if I didn’t cover them with my hands.

‘…Hmm.’

Seeing that, I felt a surge of heat.

How should I put it?

Should I call it the exhilaration of being the first to step onto an endlessly descending, thickly piled snowfield, one that no one had ever trod upon?

‘What am I even saying.’

Even I thought it was a sudden analogy.

It also meant my emotions were fluctuating to the point of being disoriented.

I tried hard to calm my emotions.

No matter how unfitting the cheers felt, I shouldn’t feel exhilarated just because I messed around in a kids’ playground.

Putting aside the embarrassment, if I started enjoying this feeling, there would be no end to it, so I had to control it from the start.

Shaking my head vigorously to shake off the emotions, I immediately went down.

The Sect Leader’s speech was over. The necessary matters were also concluded, so it was time to get down.

For reference, the martial arts match between Namgung Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah did not take place.

This was because Namgung Bi-ah was injured, and Moyong Hi-ah stated she had no intention of fighting.

Since the finals were already over and the winner decided, it was essentially just a show match, so there wasn’t really a problem, but.

There were notably many people disappointed they couldn’t see the match between these two.

Perhaps even more than the finals.

‘They both have to be reasonably good-looking.’

Namgung Bi-ah seemed to be called the Number One Beauty of Anhui now, along with her newly acquired epithet.

Moyong Hi-ah was famous for her beauty, besides her name Snow Phoenix, so it was likely disappointment over not being able to see their fight.

‘Isn’t this really about watching the martial arts match?’

In reality, it was the reason for wanting to see beautiful women, which was quite a bittersweet desire.

“You worked hard. Young Master Gu.”

As soon as I came down, Tang Soyeol greeted me.

For some reason, Tang Soyeol looked somewhat dressed up.

She adorned herself with unfamiliar accessories, and though it looked faint, she seemed to have put on some makeup.

Seeing that, I asked Tang Soyeol.

“Why are you dressed up?”

“Oh my! Did you notice? You have such keen eyes…”

“…Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t notice?”

With her dressed up so obviously, how could I not know?

“It’s the last day. Isn’t it stranger for the person being celebrated not to dress up?”

“Why bother dressing up so fussily.”

As if I did something so grand to need dressing up….

Ugh…. Just imagining it gave me goosebumps.

It was because I imagined myself excitedly dolling up and going up.

It was a completely unfitting image.

Leaving that aside, I naturally looked around.

I was looking for someone.

Tang Soyeol, perhaps sensing this, immediately gave me the answer I wanted.

“Bi-ah unni didn’t come. She said she didn’t really need to come unless it was a martial arts match.”

“…How cold.”

“She said she was sleepy and would be sleeping in the tent.”

“That’s my tent, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

Why ‘of course’? Why is that so obvious?

“Hmph.”

It was too late to argue about it now, so I just let it pass with a sigh.

Putting that aside, I approached Wi Seol-ah, who was waiting for me at a distance with the other attendants.

She looked tired and drowsy since morning, so I told her to just rest, but.

This one insisted on following me, no matter what.

“Hmm?”

As I got closer, for some reason, Wi Seol-ah’s expression didn’t look too good.

Of course, it wasn’t very obvious, but I could tell.

Her slightly stiff expression and trembling eyes were clearly visible.

Seeing that, I asked Wi Seol-ah.

“What’s wrong.”

“Huh…? Why?”

Wi Seol-ah seemed intent on pretending nothing was wrong.

Her voice was the same as usual, but her reaction was definitely strange.

“Is something wrong?”

“No? Nothing’s wrong with me!”

Instead, Wi Seol-ah playfully bristled at my words.

Could my intuition be wrong?

My intuition regarding such matters had never been wrong.

Especially when it concerned Wi Seol-ah.

I kept meeting Wi Seol-ah’s gaze, but she just tilted her head with a look asking why.

There was clearly something, but she seemed unwilling to tell me.

Without saying anything else, I just gently stroked Wi Seol-ah’s hair.

“If something’s wrong, tell me. That’s how I’ll know.”

“Really…. Nothing’s wrong…”

She seemed determined not to speak of it until the end.

Or perhaps it was my misunderstanding?

The thought that it might be possible crossed my mind.

I lowered my hand and glanced towards Jang Seonyeon.

Jang Seonyeon was also moving away from the platform.

Was it a coincidence? He turned his head this way.

His direction was correct, as our eyes met.

Jang Seonyeon didn’t particularly frown or smile like last time; he didn’t show any specific expression, but.

Just by his blank expression alone, I could tell how much the mask he was trying so hard to maintain had cracked.

Seeing that, I repeated inwardly.

‘Just wait.’

Did he sense the look I sent him?

Jang Seonyeon’s eyebrows twitched slightly before he immediately turned his head and continued on his way.

Unlike when we first met, his slightly hunched shoulders and back caught my eye.

As I watched him go, Tang Soyeol suddenly spoke to me.

“Young Master Gu, what will you do now?”

“Do what?”

“The banquet is concluding. Do you have any other schedules?”

At Tang Soyeol’s words, I pondered for a moment.

Schedules.

‘Well, I do have some.’

The ring I received from Elder Yi.

I probably should have discussed the ring, which I suspected was a treasure of the Murim Alliance, with the current Sect Leader, but.

‘I’ll put this on hold for now.’

It wasn’t because I coveted the treasure or anything.

There was no reason to covet a worn-out ring with no special abilities.

Simply.

‘If I hand this over now…’

I knew that ridiculous rumors about me being the hidden disciple of Paejon, or that the vanished Paejon was actually in the Gu Family, were already spreading bit by bit.

‘I’ll have to anonymously deliver it later.’

I didn’t want to get involved in such unnecessary situations. Especially since things were already complicated enough without this.

I thought, ‘What kind of treasure is handed over like this?’, but it felt awkward to keep it, so it couldn’t be helped.

‘And.’

Besides this, I had one other schedule.

Although it was Shin Noyaa’s schedule rather than mine.

‘Shaolin.’

I am the core of the Nine Great Sects located in Henan.

I had to visit Shaolin Temple in Henan.

“Shaolin?”

Tang Soyeol asked back, sounding puzzled at my words.

“Yeah.”

“Why Shaolin…?”

“It’s like sightseeing…”

Honestly, that was justification enough.

Since I came all the way to Henan, the reason of wanting to sightsee Shaolin Temple was practically all that needed to be said.

‘The problem is that this old man won’t wake up.’

Shin Noyaa told me to definitely go to Shaolin if I ever went to Henan, but then he just slept for days.

He should have woken up by now, but for some reason, it felt like it was taking a long time this time.

“I’m not going right away, but I think I’ll probably go in the near future.”

“For sightseeing purposes, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Th-then…”

Tang Soyeol was about to speak when she suddenly turned her head and looked towards Wi Seol-ah.

This was because Wi Seol-ah always interrupted and interfered whenever Tang Soyeol tried to say something.

‘Huh?’

I glanced over, intending to send a wary look, but for some reason, Wi Seol-ah just watched calmly.

‘This is….’

Is she telling me to let her speak? Is it a sign of permission?

I felt a slight sting to my pride at being happy just because a mere attendant gave permission, but Tang Soyeol wasn’t in a position to hide things now.

“Young Master Gu…!”

“Hmm?”

“If you go to Shaolin Temple then…”

“Shall we go together?”

“Yes, that… Huh?”

Someone cut off Tang Soyeol’s words, which she was trying to force out.

It was quite an unexpected voice, so I also looked at the culprit with slightly surprised eyes.

“…Pardon?”

“You said you’re going to Shaolin Temple.”

Long, flowing black hair, snow-white skin.

A beauty with sharp eyes reminiscent of a cat and captivating features.

“Suddenly? With me?”

“Yes.”

It was Moyong Hi-ah, the precious jewel of the Moyong Family and Snow Phoenix of the Five Dragons and Three Peaks.

“Shall we go together? To Shaolin Temple.”

And behind her, Tang Soyeol was unknowingly letting out puffs of breath.

As if speaking with her eyes.

‘What are you now?’

It was the same kind of gaze, but perhaps because Tang Soyeol’s appearance was on the cuter side, it wasn’t scary at all.