Chapter 248: Return. (1)

“You’ve returned?”

Even as I spoke to Gu Huibi, the face of one person flashed through my mind.

Possessing the unique appearances of both Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.

Specifically, a woman who possessed an endlessly noble dignity.

The Lady of White Flowers Mi Hyoran.

The head of the Gu family.

The legitimate wife of the chivalrous Gu Cheol-un, and the mother of Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.

And.

The face of the current mistress of the Gu family in Shanxi.

‘Why…?’

Her return to the family estate was still a long way off.

I should have been past my twenties at the very least.

‘It’s strange to be nitpicking about this now, but…’

Given how much the situation had changed.

Anything strange happening wouldn’t be strange anymore, but…

Still, strange was strange.

The Gu family rarely ventured outside of Shanxi.

And despite not receiving protection from merchant guilds, professional monster hunting, or patronage from others, they maintained the name of a prestigious family.

Furthermore, the reason they could maintain the family’s military strength and, if not luxury, then abundant resources.

Was none other than The Lady of White Flowers Mi Hyoran, thanks to her.

If the top merchant guild in Shanxi was the Cheonsil Guild.

The Baekhwa Guild, headed by Mi Hyoran, was known not to be quite on that level, but…

I knew.

Just how much money that family had hidden away.

In terms of wealth, they were at a level where they could potentially buy out the Gu family if they truly set their minds to it.

‘So, a woman like that has returned to the family estate.’

It was quite unusual for the mistress of the estate and the head’s legitimate wife to be away from the family, but…

This was ultimately my father’s fault.

Although I didn’t hear the details of the situation.

My father himself admitted it was his mistake.

‘I didn’t pry, but it probably has something to do with Mother’s situation.’

The way he treated his legitimate wife and concubines showed a difference bordering on favoritism.

Even from my perspective, the disparity was severe, so it wasn’t strange for the legitimate wife, Madam Mi, to be furious.

Fury.

‘Is it really fury?’

For a moment, I considered correcting my thoughts as I recalled the person Mi Hyoran was, but…

Regardless, it was true that the mistress ended up living outside the estate due to some incident.

For nearly several years, at that.

It got to the point where…

Even when Gu Huibi received the epithet ‘Sword Peak’.

Or when Gu Yeonseo achieved good results at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Mi Hyoran only sent a few letters, never appearing at the estate herself.

Using the excuse of being busy.

On the contrary, I heard Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo visited occasionally, perhaps once a year.

It was a story beyond my understanding.

Because it wasn’t a place for me to interfere.

‘For someone like that to return to the estate…’

Does it mean something big is happening?

Whether from the guild or from Mi Hyoran herself.

I looked back at Gu Huibi, who was relaying the news to me.

“I understand Madam Mi has returned… but why?”

I get that the mistress is back at the estate.

Why are you suddenly telling me this?

In response to my question, Gu Huibi picked up a letter beside her and handed it to me.

“What is this…”

As I opened the letter I received.

Inside, a short phrase was written.

-Young Master Il, return immediately.

“…”

The handwriting was my father’s.

The seal stamped on it was also the family head’s seal.

The fact that even the seal was stamped meant…

It wasn’t a request to come quickly.

It was an order to come right away.

‘What the hell, that’s scary.’

This was the letter addressed to me, and…

Judging by Gu Huibi’s reaction, it seemed she had also received a separate letter, but…

The problem was…

The news of her return to the estate.

And my immediate need to return to the estate – I couldn’t find the connection between them.

“Am I the only one going?”

“Probably?”

“What do you mean ‘probably’? You need to answer properly.”

As I asked urgently.

Gu Huibi merely shrugged her shoulders.

“Because I didn’t receive an order to return.”

Good grief… How irresponsible can one be?

“Noona, didn’t you say last time that you’d return with me when I did?”

“…”

“You talked about sisterly love and all, how can a person change so quickly?”

At that time, I actually preferred going alone, but…

Now, the situation made me feel a bit desperate for Gu Huibi’s company.

“…Brother.”

“Yeah.”

“People change, you know.”

As she spoke, turning her head slightly, I could clearly see her pupils trembling.

‘Damn it.’

I knew from the start that Gu Huibi, as the eldest young lady, couldn’t easily travel between the front lines and the estate, but…

It was still strange that Mi Hyoran had returned, yet Gu Huibi wasn’t going, and I was the only one being sent back.

‘What in the world is going on.’

I don’t know how things are unfolding, but…

At the very least, it’s not a good situation for me.

‘Madam Mi.’

Me, the child of a concubine whose position as the young family head was secured due to the legitimate wife having no male heirs.

And the family head’s legitimate wife.

My relationship with Madam Mi, who had strong backing from her influential family, was…

Quite awkward.

Of course, it wasn’t just that.

I myself found Madam Mi rather intimidating.

‘This is troublesome…’

So, if possible.

I hoped not to run into her.

Which made this letter bearing the family’s seal incredibly irritating to me.

******************

After finishing my conversation with Gu Huibi.

I tucked the letter into my clothes and stepped out of the tent.

My report about the central district was mostly finished, but…

I doubted it was received with much importance due to the letter about Madam Mi’s appearance.

As I brushed my hair back and stepped outside.

“Were you waiting?”

Namgung Bi-ah was squatting in front of me, greeting me.

There were plenty of perfectly good chairs, why was she doing this here?

“…Did you… handle the talk… well?”

It was a question that sounded rather pathetic even as I asked it, but…

It wasn’t something I could ask confidently either.

Nod.

Namgung Bi-ah nodded at my question and slowly stood up, approaching me.

I watched calmly, wondering what she was going to do.

Squeeze.

“…Huh?”

She grabbed my cheeks with both hands and pulled them outwards.

Her grip wasn’t strong enough to hurt, but…

I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind her action.

After repeating the pulling and releasing for a while.

She let go with a thump! and quickly walked ahead.

“What the, hey!”

I called out to Namgung Bi-ah urgently, but…

She didn’t seem inclined to stop.

Even though she had told me earlier to explain things when I came out.

Just as I considered following her and took a step.

Sensing my movement, Namgung Bi-ah stopped and turned her head towards me.

“…Not… me.”

“What?”

Leaving those words behind, Namgung Bi-ah leaped and vanished before my eyes.

It was a very short encounter compared to how she had waited for me.

Honestly, I could have just followed her at that speed, but…

The atmosphere I just felt from her suggested she’d be genuinely angry if I followed, so…

I had no choice but to stop and just stare in the direction Namgung Bi-ah had disappeared.

“…Not me?”

What did that mean?

Even as I questioned it.

Somehow, I felt like I understood Namgung Bi-ah’s intention.

I looked blankly into the air before finally moving my body.

I took a few steps in the direction she went.

The distance wasn’t far, but…

The strangely quiet atmosphere gave me an odd feeling.

Honestly, the surroundings weren’t that quiet, but…

Feeling that way probably meant my mind was just that complicated.

Passing through the forest, I reached a plain.

I didn’t find the path for any particular reason.

It was simply because I felt like they would be there.

“She’s squatting too.”

Sure enough.

Someone was squatting in the same pose as Namgung Bi-ah just moments ago, sitting still without moving.

It was Moyong Hi-ah, who had disappeared with Namgung Bi-ah earlier.

‘What’s with that vibe?’

It was filled with an inexplicable chill.

Perhaps reflecting Moyong Hi-ah’s current mood, a slight coldness seemed to emanate around her.

‘I told her not to do that.’

To improve her constitution, she shouldn’t intentionally bring forth cold energy.

This was something I found out after a few exchanges involving heat energy.

The heat energy I’d wrapped around my body to fix my constitution.

Would be resisted by the cold energy Moyong Hi-ah emitted, preventing it from circulating properly.

Because of that, Moyong Hi-ah hadn’t been able to properly train for the past year.

For a martial artist, a break from martial arts training is fatal.

Especially for a late-stage cultivator who must constantly strive and elevate their realm.

And even more so for a member of a prestigious family’s bloodline.

Although it was for treatment, the current time was both a miracle and an inconvenience for Moyong Hi-ah.

Putting that aside.

Why is she giving off that vibe?

It’s like after friends fight.

And moreover, after losing a verbal argument.

‘That couldn’t possibly be the case, could it?’

Snow Phoenix is someone whose verbal skills and ability to handle people are undeniable.

So, there’s no way someone as gullible as him could have lost a verbal argument to Namgung Bi-ah, who is top-tier in the Central Plains, right?

Looking at Moyong Hi-ah’s back, I slowly started to speak.

“Over there…”

What are you doing?

I was about to ask.

Before I could even ask, Moyong Hi-ah stood up.

She suddenly stood up and quickly turned her head left and right.

It looked like she was trying to shake something off.

I don’t really know why she has to do it like that.

Doesn’t her head hurt?

“…”

Her actions were too erratic for Moyong Hi-ah, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

As I just stood there blankly watching her.

Moyong Hi-ah seemed to calm down and turned around towards me.

As a result, our eyes met, as she looked back at me watching her.

“…”

“…Huh.”

Perhaps she hadn’t sensed my presence.

She seemed quite surprised to see me when she turned around.

And.

‘…Hmm.’

I also had to be quite surprised inwardly.

Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes were swollen bright red.

Seeing the slight moisture around her nose, it seemed like she had shed a little.

Her face clearly screamed, ‘I’ve been crying my eyes out.’

“Um…”

What is it? What happened to make her look like this?

Namgung Bi-ah, on the other hand, seemed completely fine.

She looked a bit downcast, but…

Not nearly as messed up as Moyong Hi-ah.

As if realizing her face looked strange right now.

Moyong Hi-ah hastily covered her face with her hands.

“Why, why are you here?”

“I was told to come.”

“…Who?”

“The one who fought with you.”

“…”

Bringing up Namgung Bi-ah’s name.

Moyong Hi-ah flinched.

Seeing that, I could tell.

Something must have happened.

“…Sword Dancer?”

“Yeah.”

“Ha…”

After hearing this, Moyong Hi-ah let out a deep sigh.

“…When did she beat me up so one-sidedly?”

“Beat? What? Did you guys really fight?”

Not a verbal argument.

Did you actually fight, trading blows?

Then Moyong Hi-ah shouldn’t be able to stand right now…?

Because Namgung Bi-ah was quite aggressive when it came to sparring or fighting.

“It wasn’t like that…! It was just, just…”

Moyong Hi-ah, who was speaking, suddenly closed her mouth and mumbled with her lips.

“…I just lost.”

“So you did fight, right?”

“I lost without fighting.”

What on earth does that mean?

What does it mean to lose without fighting?

‘Is she starting to resemble Namgung Bi-ah?’

Her explanation was so clumsy, there was no way to understand it.

However.

Given Moyong Hi-ah’s personality, acting like this meant she didn’t want to talk about it intentionally.

I couldn’t press her for answers right now.

As I looked at Moyong Hi-ah with a subtle expression.

Moyong Hi-ah avoided my gaze and muttered to herself.

“…I won’t lose next time.”

“Uh, yeah… Cheer up.”

It was a statement made like a vow, with her eyes still red and swollen, so…

She didn’t seem strong at all.

Besides, what does it mean to win next time when you say you lost without fighting?

Did she really lose a verbal argument?

No matter how I thought about Namgung Bi-ah.

She wasn’t someone who could win a verbal argument against anyone.

Maybe if she stammered, shut her mouth, and frowned.

‘…Am I missing something?’

No way.

Unless Namgung Bi-ah was putting on an act in front of me.

That wouldn’t be the case.

As I awkwardly scratched my head.

Moyong Hi-ah wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Seeing she didn’t wipe her nose, she probably hadn’t noticed, but…

Since I couldn’t point that out, I just stayed quiet.

“Please tell Sword Dancer… thank you.”

“You lost after fighting, and you want me to tell her thank you? Doesn’t that sound really weird?”

“Because I don’t want to say I’m sorry.”

It was an incomprehensible pride.

“It’s not a difficult task, so I can do it. But more importantly…”

“Yes.”

Moyong Hi-ah momentarily looked expectant, perhaps thinking I would offer some comfort, but…

Unfortunately, my conversational skills weren’t quite there, and…

The important main point remained.

“Pack your bags.”

“…What?”

“I think we need to head back home tomorrow.”

“…?”

At my words, Moyong Hi-ah’s swollen eyes widened.

Her round expression didn’t suit her at all, causing me to burst out laughing unintentionally.

Seeing my laughter, Moyong Hi-ah rubbed her eyes even more vigorously with her hands.

******************

It was around nighttime.

I had expected to depart in a few days, but…

Because there was an order from the family estate to return immediately.

I had to hastily prepare for my return.

My personal attendants quickly started packing my belongings.

Since several guards would also be absent, I had to quickly finalize coordination with the Five Swords Guard.

Furthermore, naturally, since I was returning to the estate.

The Moyong family side also needed to prepare.

Thanks to all this, my schedule became quite busy until the next morning.

The problem was, amidst all this.

-Young Master Il.

“Yeah.”

-As you instructed. I’ve brought them.

A guest had arrived this late at night.

I had expected someone might come and told them to let me know beforehand, but…

I didn’t expect they’d actually show up.

“Let them in.”

Swish.

As soon as my order was given, someone entered the tent.

The inside of the tent, which wasn’t that small, seemed to become cramped with just one more person entering.

The man was so large, he had to bow his head to avoid hitting the ceiling.

I slowly raised my head, looked at the guest, and said.

“You’re quicker to act than I expected.”

“…”

“It’s good to see you.”

The giant turned his head away, avoiding my gaze.

Hwangbo Cheok’s younger brother.

Hwangbo Cheol-wi.