Chapter 221: Omen. (8)

Omen. (8)

How many days had it been since I got trapped in the forest?

Since it was a dreadful space where I couldn’t see day or night, I couldn’t know for sure.

It meant that I could only wait for time to pass, as there was nothing else I could do.

-What’s even more shitty is being stuck with you, I guess.

-Why are you picking a fight when I was just minding my own business?

-You do it often too. Endure it.

-Have you finally lost your mind? Ah, or were you always like this.

We walked for a long time, exchanging pointless chatter.

Honestly, I had no idea why we were bothering to move when we couldn’t even get out, no matter how much we walked.

Because I knew that if I refused, she’d throw a fit with those vicious eyes.

I was just going along with it moderately.

-Geez…. Crazy bitch.

-I can hear everything.

-I’m saying it so you can hear. So you can hear me.

After getting trapped in this forest with Snow Phoenix Moyong Hi-ah.

I tried every method imaginable, but ultimately, I failed to find a way out.

As for food, I could somehow survive by killing monsters or eating bugs, but…

Just endlessly circling the same spot without being able to leave was the height of annoyance.

-This really fucking sucks. Why do I have to suffer like this?

-Do you really have to use such vulgar language?

-Vulgar my ass, do you have to be noble even in this situation?

-I really can’t stand being around you…. Are you really a descendant of a prestigious family? You don’t look like one at all.

-I feel the same way, you damn bitch. Stop talking and just walk.

Everything was infuriating, but this bitch took up the biggest portion of that anger.

Why out of all the people in the world did I have to get stuck with this annoying girl?

Or maybe, she’s better than Jamryong.

Jamryong was a disgusting guy.

In a way, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

-What have you been muttering to yourself since earlier?

-Don’t worry about it and look ahead. Why do you keep sticking to me?

-Who said I’m sticking to you? Do you want to die?

-Using such vulgar language again. Speak nicely, Miss.

-…Wait a moment. Stop right there.

-Yeah, I’m not stopping.

It was a repetitive bickering session that was hardly even a conversation.

Since not a single aspect of our personalities matched, there was no way we could get along.

I moved my feet as if trying to escape.

Turning back, I asked.

-Seriously, why do you keep trying to stick close to me?

-…When did I? Why would I… with someone like you….

-So, why are you sticking close? Do you like me?

-I’ll rip your mouth open and kill you.

-Right, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The killing intent I felt just now was real.

To spew killing intent just because I joked a little….

-Then why are you doing it?

-….

-You can’t deny it, I have eyes too.

-You do?

-Are you a crazy bitch?

I clicked my tongue once and turned my head.

Seriously, why is she acting like this?

-It’s been like this since we entered the forest.

The subtle distance between me and Snow Phoenix seemed to have narrowed considerably.

Moyong Hi-ah, who used to look at me like I was a bug and never came near me,

was now sticking close to my side for some reason, which was strangely bothersome.

Pondering this, I asked Snow Phoenix.

-Hey.

-What is it?

-Are you scared?

-…What did you say?

Snow Phoenix frowned as if she hadn’t heard correctly, but…

I could sense a slight opening there.

-Are you scared of the dark?

-Are you sick? Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?

But she couldn’t deny it; Snow Phoenix’s eyes were shaking, which was rare to see.

Her hands, which had been diligently rubbing her shoulders as if she were cold, moved faster.

Seeing that, I had to frown.

-No wonder you were sticking to me so clingily.

-…I told you I wasn’t.

-Then get lost. Stop sticking to me.

Unlike usual, the fact that she kept closing the distance was extremely unsettling.

Whether it was true or not, I just wished she would move away a bit.

-…What if we get lost if we separate?

-We’re already lost, and what difference does sticking together make?

After all, no matter how hard we walked, we’d just end up back where we started.

As I spoke with a deep frown, Snow Phoenix’s eyes narrowed slightly.

-As expected, you don’t seem to have any interest in anyone other than So Geomseong.

-What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden? Why is that bitch brought up here?

Bringing up So Geomseong out of nowhere, has she gone mad from hunger?

-You might not know it, but everyone else knows. They know you’re particularly weak towards So Geomseong.

-That sounds like bullshit.

I just don’t stick around because it’s uncomfortable, what do you mean weak?

-Ah, by weak, I don’t mean physically. You probably know yourself that you’re weakest in that regard.

-You damn bitch….

I wanted to smash into her right then, but I barely held back.

Besides, I wouldn’t win even if I did try to hit her.

-Being stuck with you makes my stomach churn.

-What a coincidence. I felt the same way.

Snow Phoenix turned her head and said something, but…

I turned my steps, growling, and changed direction.

If she wasn’t following or sticking to me, she’d naturally fall behind.

After walking through the foggy forest for a while, I muttered quietly.

-This is truly a fucking shitty world.

Nothing else came to mind.

Because it was the most fitting phrase.

-Am I going to die like this?

It was a scary thought for a casual mutter, but…

I, who had spoken the words, didn’t really think much of it.

Even giving it the shortest estimate, it’s been seven days and nights.

It must have been about that long since I entered this forest.

Even if I couldn’t track day and night. That was how it felt.

If I really couldn’t escape this forest and were to die like this…

-It was a useless life.

A chuckle escaped me without my realizing it.

Because it felt like I was dying too disgracefully.

Rustle.

I pushed through the bushes.

I wasn’t heading towards any particular destination.

Since I wouldn’t be able to get out no matter how much I walked, I was just looking for a place to rest.

Then, suddenly.

-Hmm?

I felt something different.

Because the path felt slightly different from the one I’d been walking for days.

Why is that?

This path, which I had become so familiar with that I could walk it blindfolded.

For some reason, I sensed a change.

I quickened my pace.

Because I didn’t know if the forest’s change might allow me to escape.

I was also a little rushed.

As I passed the trees and went out beyond the bushes.

-What the…?

A space I had never seen before awaited me.

-What’s wrong? What happened?

A moment after I stopped, Snow Phoenix rushed over anxiously.

She said she wasn’t following…

Of course, this wasn’t the time to point that out.

Snow Phoenix looked where I was looking, and her eyes widened like saucers.

-…A cave?

In front of us was a cave we’d never seen before.

It wasn’t very large, but it was a cave shrouded in darkness, receiving no light.

I immediately took a step towards it.

-Wait, just a moment.

As I headed for the cave, Snow Phoenix grabbed me with an urgent voice.

I tilted my head slightly to look at Snow Phoenix and asked.

-Why.

-…Are you going in there right now?

-Can’t you see?

-What makes you think there’s something in there?

A space where you couldn’t see an inch ahead.

As I tried to enter the space that, as Snow Phoenix said, could contain anything.

She blocked my path.

Snow Phoenix’s words were reasonable, but it was something I couldn’t understand.

-Then are you just going to sit here until we die?

-That’s not it. I need to check something out….

-Check it out my ass, you check it out yourself, I’m going in….

As I tried to break free and enter, Snow Phoenix’s face looked strange.

-Hey, why is your face red?

In response to my question, Snow Phoenix quickly covered her cheeks with her hands.

As if she shouldn’t show them.

-It’s nothing…. I’m just a bit hot.

-Hot? You?

Even in this sweltering weather, she, who wraps herself up in clothes others have discarded, says she’s hot?

-That makes no sense. If you’re not feeling well, stay here.

-…I told you I’m fine! Don’t worry about it.

-Why are you yelling and making a fuss…!

Anyway, what a weird-tempered girl she is.

Leaving Snow Phoenix like that, I headed for the cave.

Since staying here any longer wouldn’t solve anything, if I found something, I had to investigate it.

-No…. Wait…!

I plunged into the darkness.

Snow Phoenix, left alone, bit her lip.

-…Seriously, why did I have to be left behind with such a person…!

Putting aside her body that was constantly simmering with something, after a brief hesitation, Snow Phoenix also moved into the cave.

Because she absolutely hated being left alone in this dim space.

That was the beginning of the problem.

---

“Get lost.”

After spitting the words out, I immediately covered my mouth with my hand.

‘…I made a mistake.’

Because the words that came out were what I was thinking inside, unlike what I originally intended to say.

I had tried to avoid getting involved with that damn thing at least, but…

‘What a reckless bastard.’

It seemed my accumulated instincts couldn’t handle it.

The words I had bottled up inside, so to speak.

‘This isn’t the time.’

First, I had to hastily clean up this mess.

“No, that’s not it…. I think I ate something bad this morning….”

As I tried to salvage the situation with gestures and hand movements.

-Pfft.

I heard laughter from ahead.

“Haha…!”

Wondering what it was, I looked.

“Hahaha!”

Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t hold back her laughter, covering her mouth with one hand.

And clutching her stomach with the other, she giggled uncontrollably.

“…It seems the one who ate something bad wasn’t me?”

Why is she acting like that?

To burst out laughing after being cursed at, did she really eat something wrong?

“Excuse me…. Miss Moyong.”

“Ha…haha…. Ah… I’m sorry.”

As if she had finally regained her composure, Moyong Hi-ah adjusted her posture.

However, it seemed she hadn’t completely stopped laughing.

She looked like she was trying hard to suppress her lips from curling upwards intermittently.

“I couldn’t help it…. I apologize.”

“…It’s alright. I apologize too.”

“It seems Young Master Gu has some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Asking me to spend the night together.

Was that a phrase that could be misunderstood? Anyone would see it as a direct proposition.

[A misunderstanding…. I’d like to hear about it.]

‘Noya, please lower the intensity in your voice…….’

Noya’s voice, which had become considerably grave as if he were quietly sharpening his sword, sounded mournful.

If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, what was he planning to do?

To my question, Moyong Hi-ah smiled faintly and said.

“I was merely asking if you could spend some time with me.”

“Time? Didn’t you specifically say ‘night’?”

“Indeed. It seems I made a mistake.”

Moyong Hi-ah smiled, her eyes curving as if admitting her mistake, but…

It wasn’t a mistake.

She definitely said it intentionally.

“Isn’t it difficult to mistakenly say ‘night’ when you mean ‘time’?”

“It’s because I ate something bad this morning.”

“Ah, so you’re going to use that excuse now?”

This is why smart people…

“…Enough. Just explain what you mean by spending time together.”

“Young Master Gu, you are truly unique.”

“Why?”

“It’s more surprising that you don’t know. Perhaps it’s because Sword Dancer is around you….”

Why is Namgung Bi-ah being brought up?

As I narrowed my eyes and stared at her.

Moyong Hi-ah cleared her throat once and continued with something else.

“I want to buy your heat, Young Master.”

“…What?”

“I have already received permission from the Gu family head.”

“Wait… heat…. No, you got permission from my father?”

What kind of nonsensical story is unfolding right now?

Buy my heat?

“Yes, the family head permitted it…. I would like to purchase some of your heat, Young Master.”

“…Buy my heat? What do you intend to buy it with?”

“I’ve prepared something quite expensive, but if that doesn’t work…. perhaps with my body?”

Her manner of speaking, tilting her head as if clueless.

It seemed like she was trying to act innocent.

But for me, it made me want to step back.

[They say those destined for success get lucky even when doing nothing. Life is truly fucking unfair.]

‘Is that important right now in this situation?’

[It’s not important to you, is it? You rotten bastard…!]

Noya’s outbursts weren’t new, so it was something I could overlook now.

Though it seemed more excessive than usual this time…. Ah, perhaps it’s because she’s from the Moyong family?

“No… my heat…. No.”

“Will it not work?”

“It’s not that it won’t work. What exactly do you want to do?”

“If it’s not a ‘no’, then that’s fine. I’ll come back later.”

“What the hell… where are you going…? Where are you going now, hey! Where are you going!”

Moyong Hi-ah said only what she needed to and walked away from me with her attendants.

For a moment, I considered grabbing her and asking, but…

I could see that if I caught her in my current state, she’d just twist my words with her sly talk.

“Buy my heat…?”

Buy what? Does she think my heat is some kind of commodity?

I saw Wi Seol-ah running towards me, chattering away, holding something to wipe my sweat, but…

Sweat or whatever.

Right now, I had to go find my father.

---

“What is it.”

As I burst into the head’s quarters, opening the door.

My father looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Seeing my father like that, I asked.

“Miss Moyong came looking for me and said she wanted to buy something from me. Do you know what she meant?”

Moyong Hi-ah said she had gotten permission from my father, so I came to ask him.

‘Surely Father wouldn’t have done something like this….’

Why would he suddenly be selling or buying my heat?

It was strange even to me.

“Yes.”

“Right? Father doesn’t know…. Huh?”

“He said he would proceed with it.”

“You agreed to let her buy my heat?”

“There’s nothing to buy or not buy. The deal is already done.”

“But why without my opinion….”

The moment I was about to express my displeasure at the matter proceeding without asking me anything.

Father took a letter from his drawer and handed it to me.

“These are the terms of the deal concluded with the Moyong family.”

“…Why are you suddenly giving this to me?”

“Everything written there is the item being traded for your heat.”

Following my father’s words, I shifted my gaze to the letter.

Just what exactly did they stake to make it so significant….

“…”

I had to shut my mouth the moment I read it.

Because the quantity was that overwhelming.

Starting from silks that are not easily traded with outsiders.

And even industrial complexes that sell clothing made from those silks.

‘…Has the Moyong family truly gone mad?’

It was a level hard to comprehend otherwise.

“The detailed specifics are highly classified, so you will be informed separately.”

“…What, do I have to keep a fire going all day? You know I’m going into seclusion soon, right?”

It was a value that wouldn’t be strange even if I were acting like a human bonfire, emitting flames all day long.

Setting that aside.

Not only going into seclusion soon.

Given the schedule requiring me to go to the front lines, it was unclear what the Moyong family intended by making such a deal with the Gu family.

“They said they would accept and handle that aspect, so it should be fine.”

“I don’t know what’s fine about this…. Moreover, even so, this…”

“A certain portion of the elixirs and funds written there will go to you.”

“That sounds good. I’ll have to work hard then.”

[…What a crazy bastard.]

Thinking about it again, considering the significant gains, it didn’t seem like something worth worrying about.

‘But why me specifically?’

I already knew to some extent about Moyong Hi-ah’s constitution.

A body gradually being consumed by cold.

It was a constitution that couldn’t be cured by divine means, let alone medical arts.

Could the reason she desires my heat be because of that?

‘But if that were the case….’

If we consider the family’s fire cultivators, my father is right there, not to mention…

There are many other martial artists who are fire cultivators, so I don’t understand why she specifically sought me out.

‘My heat wouldn’t be helpful to Moyong Hi-ah.’

This was something I knew from my past life’s experience.

My heat doesn’t reach her.

Even if it did reach her, it wouldn’t be enough to melt the cold….

‘Did she find something else?’

Reaching this current life, the power of the Heavenly Demon, or…

Purifying demonic energy, absorbing other energies, etc.

Given the absurd changes I’ve experienced.

Perhaps, a thought crossed my mind that there might be some other difference in that regard.

‘Is that why Moyong Hi-ah specifically sought me out?’

If my heat were helpful for Moyong Hi-ah’s constitution.

From the Moyong family’s perspective, it’s understandable they’d spend this much money to acquire my heat.

What I couldn’t understand was.

Moyong Hi-ah’s reaction.

For some reason, her reaction, which seemed like she was enjoying it, was so different from her past life that…

It made me flinch involuntarily.

‘If this is really the case, does it mean Moyong Hi-ah will also stay here permanently?’

Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine for some reason.

‘…No, seclusion, the front lines, there are many places to escape, so it should be fine.’

Since the Moyong family said they would handle it.

At least for then, it should be okay.

As I was lost in thought.

Suddenly, Shin Noya muttered something.

[I’m reminded of something I said a long time ago.]

‘What words are you referring to.’

[The words about gathering women based on their hair color.]

‘…’

[This is exactly like that now. Hoho. This damn world, those destined for success can’t even chew because they have no teeth, yet it forces food down their throats somehow.]

Noya, perhaps having gone mad, started muttering to himself.

As for me, regarding Moyong Hi-ah.

I had to consider whether I should tell Wi Seol-ah or Namgung Bi-ah.

‘…Whether I tell them or not.’

In any case, I couldn’t see a favorable outcome.

I wanted to just go into seclusion quickly.